Thoughts on 5 Films

1. No Other Choice - *spoilers* Oooooh I liked this a lot. Definitely one of the best films of 2026 (and miles better than a lot of Oscar nominees for Best Picture...). My biggest, and really only, criticism is that it's too long. It's a 100 minute concept, and those extra 40 minutes really drag it down. The plot is actually deranged - this man loses his job, has a chance at getting another job, but there are a lot of more qualified candidates, so he KILLS THEM one by one until he's the best person for the job. LOL. He creates a fake company to see who applies and who has better resumes than him, and then he plans their demise. It's both genius and psychotic at the same time. Obviously there is a lot of social commentary on technology taking over human jobs, capitalism, and the lines you will cross to keep your status. Park Chan-wook has such an insane filmography - directed Oldboy, The Handmaiden, Stoker - all incredible. He is definitely one of the best current working directors and someone who actually pays attention to camera angles and knows how to use the camera to tell a story (I would say that it's his DP, but the guy who shot those 3 films I just listed also shot Uncharted and the new Running Man, which are very ugly movies). Lee Byung-hun is incredible in this - certainly better than all the lead actor Oscar nominees combined. And I just realized that this film actually missed out in all the Oscar categories?! I thought it was an International Feature nominee?? It's definitely better than The Secret Agent and I have it higher on my list than Sentimental Value and It Was Just an Accident (although I love both of those movies). Anyway, there's some genuinely unexpected slapstick comedy, mixed with a dark satire of late stage capitalism. I highly recommend it! 

2. Scream 7 -  *spoilers ahead* This flat out fucking sucks. For context, I was a big fan of both Scream (2022) and Scream VI, and I absolutely adore both Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera. I think they did a great job at reinvigorating the franchise and making me care about new characters. I actually did not care at all that Neve Campbell didn't appear in the last one (because they wouldn't pay her enough), because *how* many times is this poor woman going to be attacked by serial killers in a Ghostface mask?? It's just not even interesting anymore, and this one just rehashes the exact same thing - a serial killer targeting Sidney and her family...AGAIN. How many times is she going to be stabbed??? (The answer is 4 different times, that's not including the slashings, and getting shot). And I think Gale Weathers has been left for dead more than a few times. It's all so eye-rolling. So, I just think it was a HUGE mistake to write out the two characters that made the Scream franchise interesting again (and obviously the reason behind that decision sucks). But I was still willing to give this a shot, because, overall, I'm a big fan of the franchise as a whole. The first Scream is one of my favorite horror movies of all time! This one is, by far, the worst one though (I didn't think it could get worse than Scream 3). First, the opening sequence is SO LAME. I appreciate that it's Jimmy Tatro (because I love him. He's hilarious), but the opening is supposed to be ICONIC and this one falls flat. Second, I wish Mckenna Grace was playing the main girl instead of the friend, because the main girl (Sidney's daughter) is a really awful actress (I don't know who she is and I don't feel like looking it up). Third, the plot is fucking stupid - get this fucking AI shit out of my face. It's so stupid that they bring Stu back as an "AI" generated video. But the reveal of who the actual killers are is even stupider. I actually already knew that Anna Camp was one of them because the internet spoiled it for me (but also, I probably would have guessed it from the poster? Why do they have her look so evil on the poster? Weird choice!). And then I assumed that Ethan Embry would be the other because why else would they cast him? But I need someone to explain it to me like I'm 5 as to what exactly their motivation to become serial killers is??? She killed her own son? WHY? Because her husband was abusive? So she decided to traumatize and murder people? It doesn't make any sense? But the absolutely dumbest part of the whole thing is at the end when Sidney turns to her daughter after all of her friends have been murdered, and her father is on the brink of death, and she was almost murdered, and she asks "you ok?" as if she just lost a soft ball game or something. LOL. My favorite part of this watch was when my husband came into the room and said "how's the movie? Did Maskface do it? That's his name, right? Maskface? No wait...Screamface". Funnier than the entire movie. 

3. Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man - Well, this is fine. I liked the series a lot (but from what I remember it drags a lot towards the end? I lost a lot of interest after they killed off Annabelle Wallis' character because she was my favorite. And I think that happened in season 3 - and there are 3 more seasons after that, that I remember very little about). I think that casting Barry Keoghan as Tommy Shelby's son is actually perfect and I wish he was going to continue the role in the sequel series that's been announced (I think they got Jamie Bell for it? I'm not mad about it). I don't typically find Cillian Murphy hot, but he was always super hot as Tommy Shelby and he's even hotter as old, worn-down Tommy Shelby! UGH I hate how men get better looking as they age. It's so fucking unfair. I don't really understand Rebecca Ferguson's character at all (I had to look up who she is, and I'm still unclear - she's his baby mama's twin? AND he sleeps with her??? That's low, even for Tommy Shelby). But I don't know why he trusts her whole mystical aura? It doesn't really make sense. But overall, it's a decent entry into the Peaky Blinders franchise and I think it's a good starting point for the series to continue without the main character. But it's also a little boring and predictable. 

4. The Bride! - I know this didn't get the best reviews, but I mostly read reviews that called it "weird" and I can appreciate "weird", so I was intrigued. It certainly has its flaws, but overall I quite liked this. I like that it's a well-known story told in a very fresh and bold way. It is weird, a little chaotic, and very well acted. I mean, Jessie Buckley is way better in this than she was in her Oscar winning role last year. She's incredible in this - I couldn't take my eyes off of her. I think Maggie Gyllenhaal (the director) did what she wanted to do, so I would call this a success. And it's very different than her last directorial effort (The Lost Daughter), so she also has quite a range. As far as the flaws - I think it feels a little like a copy of Poor Things. Like if you took Poor Things and the story of Bonnie & Clyde, and threw in some musical numbers you get this movie (it also feels a bit Joker sequel-esque, so if you hated that, then you will hate this). So, even though it's a Frankenstein story told in a "new" way, it's not the most original feeling film. I also think Christian Bale is a little too dry in this?? I don't think I've ever listed him as a flaw in a film, ever, so this feels weird, but his performance is so flat compared to what Buckley is giving. And I had no idea that Penelope Cruz is in this too (she's great, as per usual). I also think the film starts to lose the plot towards the end, and is about 30 minutes too long. The Mary Shelley ghostly interludes are completely unnecessary, it takes the audience out of the film, and becomes annoying. I do think a more established director would have realized that the whole idea wasn't working and would have cut it immediately, but Gyllenhaal is still learning. I'm still excited by what she'll do next. Also, "Monster Mash" during the end credits is hilarious. 

5. Thrash - I'm typically very forgiving of dumb shark films, but this one is sadly very bad. It does have perhaps the funniest and most unhinged childbirth scene I've ever seen, so that's something at least. I will never forget it (and honestly, I urge you to just google the scene because it's worth seeing, but you don't need to experience the whole movie). The line after she gives birth is "mommy's gotta fight some fucking sharks". I'm dead. Deceased. LOL. Anyway, It's a shame that the rest of it sucks because I like the cast a lot. I hated Phoebe Dynevor in Bridgerton, but she really won me over with Fair Play (a really great, under-appreciated movie). Whitney Peak is GORGEOUS. And Djimon Hounsou! They are all innocent here - they give it their all in this very, very dumb movie. It's basically a more serious version of Sharknado, except it's like if Hurricane Katrina also had sharks in the flooded waters attacking people. And they attack because a meat truck flips over into the flooded waters (lol). The biggest problem is that the sharks look insanely fake. And I just don't really care about anyone? I mean, obviously I care about a pregnant woman, but I also think she's very, very stupid for staying during a hurricane - the excuse given is due to work, but she should be on maternity leave if she's literally ready to give birth?? And then she asks this TEENAGE girl to go into shark infested waters in order to save them?? I just wouldn't do it. Then there are these three foster kids who have abusive foster parents, which is way too serious for a shark movie! Overall, I think the whole thing just takes itself too seriously, it's missing the fun! 

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Christy - I want to preface this with the fact that I actually like Sydney Sweeney, but her acting in this is atrocious. I thought it might be her worst performance to date, but then I watched The Housemaid a few days later and Jesus Christ?! What happened to her? I'll talk more about that movie below, but I'm kind of in shock at how bad she is because I think she's great on Euphoria (although I hate her character and the writing for that show), and gives really solid performances in Immaculate, The Voyeurs, The White Lotus, and Reality. There are a few things that I don't like her in (Madam Webb, Anyone But You), but I thought it was a product of miscasting. But now I'm just questioning whether she can act? I still appreciate that she seems to want to challenge herself, and I'm definitely not trying to hate on her. I think a lot of people, women in particular, hate on her because she has a banging body and that's just misogyny (and jealousy). Plain and simple. And I think she's assumed to be MAGA? But, sorry if this shocks you, a lot of rich white American women are (they just might be quieter about it). Also, on a side note, I was not prepared for the hairstyle switch to those braids. Anyway, I think the acting in this, in general, is quite bad - even Merritt Wever (and I'm a big Merritt Wever fan - still my favorite speech ever "gotta go, bye!"). Ben Foster can get in the bin (can't stand the whole method acting nonsense especially if it means treating your co-workers like shit). And Ethan Embry is playing her DAD?! I'm so old! Other than the acting, this is just a fairly basic biopic. It's from point A to point B, and it's all very dull. I don't know who this real life person is (I don't follow boxing), so I didn't realize how it was going to end - *spoiler* she tries to leave her husband so he stabs her several times and then shoots her. JESUS CHRIST! How awful. But I kind of hate how films about domestic abuse end with the abuse, especially since Christy lived. I would have rather seen her overcoming this incident - the strength she had to find to survive, and how she became a role model for queer athletes, etc. would have been far more interesting. Instead this is all left as an after thought. 

2. Send Help - *major spoilers ahead* I liked this movie even though I don't think it's as good as some reviews suggest. It's a solid revenge thriller though and Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien are brilliant in it. I think I've mentioned it before but O'Brien looks so much like my ex-boyfriend, it's actually kind of weird. As he gets older he looks more and more like him (although, I haven't seen my ex in over 15 years so I have no idea what he looks like now). Anyway, I think Sam Raimi made a very entertaining, somewhat original movie here that has some really funny parts, some intense moments, a good amount of gore etc., but it's also a bit stupid. And it's a film in which both characters are so absolutely unlikeable that it's hard to root for the ending it gets. This whole revenge for women being treated like shit by their bosses (who is also nepo-baby dipshit in this) is supposed to feel empowering, but when your "girl power" character is also a murderer it's hard for me to root for her. The story about her letting her husband take his keys even though she knew he was drunk is absolutely gross. I don't care about her husband (I think he was abusive? I don't even remember), but he could have killed other people driving drunk. Innocent people shouldn't be collateral damage because you want your husband to die. That's psychotic! I just think they take the story too far. She could have just been a completely normal person who was pushed over the edge by this asshole she now has to care for on an island and decides to torture him. I would have enjoyed that way more. There's some great stuff here though - the boar scene is hilarious and then she drops the head in front of him and blood splatters. I laughed hard. I love how prepared she was for being stranded on an island - people like this fascinate me because like I've said many times, I would just walk into the ocean. I have no energy for all that survival stuff. 

3. Wuthering Heights (2026) - I was actually quite looking forward to this because I've enjoyed Emerald Fennell's previous films (Promising Young Woman is my favorite film of 2020 and I think Saltburn is a solid movie). And I love Margot Robbie. And I was under the impression that Fennell was going to make this quite steamy (I LOVE a good steamy sex scene!). I read the novel for the first time at the beginning of this year. I will give my full thoughts in my yearly book post, but I genuinely felt like I was reading it for my entire life. It's never-ending. But also quite surprising in where the story goes and I definitely wondered how the film was going to tackle it. And the film...just...doesn't? LOL. It's basically only the first part of the book, which is weird, but apparently that's how all of the adaptions are? I don't think I've seen any of them but from what I've read, it's common fashion to just focus on the romance and avoid the whole generational saga. That's SO weird to me. If you're going to adapt a book, you can't just ignore an entire part of the book??? There are also a LOT of changes to the supporting characters in this that annoyed the shit out of me. ANYWAY...while I don't think this will end up on my worst films of 2026 list, I might put it there out of pure spite because the worst part of this movie is that it is so fucking bland. The sex scenes? Among the blandest ever put to screen. The chemistry between the leads? Non-existent. I personally do not think Jacob Elordi is hot (he's attractive but not my type),  and I know there was a lot of controversy when his casting in this was announced, but the miscasting here goes waaaay beyond him being white. The man can NOT act. His acting always bothered me on Euphoria, but I thought it had to do with the accent. Like, he sounds like he's trying too hard to enunciate words and it seems like he's reading off of cue cards sometimes. I didn't mind him in Saltburn, but I don't think a lot of acting was required. And I think he was really good in last year's Frankenstein, but his performance was heavily aided by his wardrobe and makeup (and didn't deserve an Oscar nomination. WTF.). He was miscast as Elvis in Priscilla. But this is his first big leading man type of role and it's such a misfire for me. He has no charisma at all, he sounds so flat, and he looks like there is absolutely nothing going on in his brain. To be fair, I don't think Margot Robbie does a great job in this either - she's terribly flat too. There's a point when Elordi asks (in the most monotoned voice ever) "do you want me to stop?" and I literally yelled at the television "YES PLEASE STOP THIS IS SO FUCKING BORING". On a positive note - I like the girl who plays Isabella. She was also in the series Task that I recently watched and she is GREAT in it! And, of course, I love seeing Owen Cooper as a young Heathcliff! He's so adorable. He's going to be a big star (I hope he has someone looking out for him!). And on a side note that's related to the terribly boring sex scenes. I recently rewatched Lady Chatterley's Lover (2022) (because I'm doing a deep dive into Jack O'Connell's filmography. Obvi!) and if you want to see actual hot and steamy sex scenes in a period romance then this is a great example. 

4. Dust Bunny - My husband picked this movie and I'm glad that he did! I had never heard of it but as soon as I saw Mads Mikkelsen's name I certainly wasn't going to turn it down. And then we started watching it and I was really digging this whimsical horror fairytale vibe that felt extremely familiar so it made complete sense to me when I googled it to realize that it's a BRYAN FULLER FILM!!! The genius behind two of my all-time favorite series, Pushing Daisies and Dead Like Me (yes, Hannibal is fantastic too, but not among my favorites). I had no idea he was making movies now! And reuniting with Mads?! How was this not a bigger story among film nerds? This is why I sometimes miss Twitter because I truly feel like I miss out on so much movie news even though I follow only film/tv people on Bluesky. It's just not the same. I still have to check Twitter a lot to find out what's happening in the film world and it sucks. Anyway, I also really love the little girl - she is so adorable and her jacket in the beginning is SO COOL. She has some incredible facial expressions in this - I truly felt her terror and I believed her from the very start of the movie! There IS A MONSTER UNDER HER BED! It's a really fun movie, and there are some great action scenes, and it looks incredible - vibrant and stylized, with unique characters (very similar to Fuller's show - if you are a fan then I highly recommend this!). 

5. The Housemaid - This is another one that I thought I was going to like for various reasons - I typically like Paul Feig films (and I appreciate that he is bringing back the 90s style psychological thrillers starring women), I like both Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried. And Brandon Sklenar (he's from NJ!). I know Freida McFadden is a very popular novelist right now, but I have yet to read any of her books, definitely curious though! I thought this would be a good introduction to see if I like this story and then maybe I would pick up one of her titles (I don't always trust the masses when it comes to books - Taylor Jenkins Reid is incredibly popular and I've read two of her books and they are among the worst books I've ever read). Unfortunately, I hated this. I rated it two stars, but one of those whole stars is just for Amanda Seyfried's performance. She's incredible. Literally acting circles around everyone - it's almost embarrassing. Aside from the fact that it's incredibly dull and boring and an entire hour too long, it's also just really stupid and obvious. *some spoilers ahead* It's obvious that the husband is the bad guy from the second he appears. It's also obvious that Seyfried's character is pretending to be crazy in order to gaslight Sweeney's character. I couldn't pinpoint why because the why is actually deranged??? I truly hope that this doesn't inspire women in abusive relationships to try this as a way out? And then the end is her basically turning it into a business??? Like hire me to seduce your abusive husband, he'll leave you for me (reasons unclear? I guess because she's hot?), and then I'll kill him! Brilliant. *slams head into a wall over and over again*. This also features a few really boring sex scenes - just no passion or intensity at all. It's weird because this is probably a film that I would think of casting Sweeney in - this sexy seductress who is somehow also very sweet and innocent. Seems like a perfect role - but she is absolutely horrific in this. The line delivery is so off it's almost hard to watch. She does get naked though - so that's a plus (although I guess that's not even a good enough reason to watch movies nowadays because, as my husband pointed out when I tried to get him to watch this with me and I used "Sydney Sweeney is in it and I *think* she gets naked", and his response was "why would I watch a movie for that? I have the internet". The internet really did ruin everything, huh?).