I saw this film in one of the collections of “Top horrors”, and decided to pass it with the help of the evening. Nothing much was expected, from the review decided that this is a fairly standard modern tractor, with a lot of dialogue, pseudosocial lining and an attempt to dramatize the undramatized.
Thank God I was wrong. First, despite the extremely small number of actors, the film looks very lively, does not let you get bored. Secondly, I really like it when their original interpretation is made up for tired plots, which at the same time perfectly fits into the narrative. Here it was just that: I suspect that the authors took the classical scheme “Beauty and the Beast” and tried to rethink: what if the monster is still a monster, but vice versa? Not the monster outside, but the prince inside, the prince inside. He also fell in love with a potential victim. Yes, so sincerely that her numerous attempts to kill him comment only on the persuasion to calm down.
It turned out very plausible, and even the creators managed to insert a couple of good twists, which (if I am a little more impressionable) in theory should make you drop your jaw. Plus, logically arising from the above disposition, the eternal question: can true love win? It turns out that the answer is not so simple.
In general, I was very pleased, especially since both directing and acting are in order here.
7 out of 10
To the masterpiece, of course, does not reach, but the level is decently higher than a strong middle peasant. I suspect we should wait for the prequel sequels.
Solution of civilizational problems with the help of a personal chronic crisis, or: - Well, you got, although "the area here, beautiful"!
With a beautiful area, everything begins - a tourist trail, the fall of red stone, autumn shooting with a quadcopter, a couple of tourists, a rotting deer - everything speaks of a standard, low-budget horror, in beautiful landscapes of nature. About half of the movie almost turned it off, and for good reason! Next, the authors Implement the theme of all-conquering love or abusiveness in the reaction of one of the characters - this is because for you, the "Stream of Desire" is a necessary first or optional dessert. Moreover, if the theme of all-conquering love has already been played out in fiction, well, there’s “The Beatle from Space”, then the next twist of the plot will make you understand why in the North American States, judging by the number of prescribed drugs, practitioners and the annually expanding list of disorders, it is so popular to suffer from personal states different from those considered normal – they are ready to go! To completely destroy the enemy, they have a secret weapon - Psychosomatics - much more destructive than any "crown"!
In general: interesting plot moves, played so jewelry that the reviewers contradict each other in the assessment, what was meant, but no more - a curious novel, without much film art. And in my opinion, there is little grotesque in the presentation of the reactions of the internally renewed years, a little bit we did not regret - it could turn out at the level of "Homic Holidays".
5 out of 10
- No one will save you. You'll always be broken inside. You're useless. You'll never be happy. Why do you even live?
- Please stop, I can't breathe. Please stop. . .
This is not a snippet of dialogue from a chamber drama about a toxic couple relationship. This is a sketch about the relationship between an alien spy and his terrestrial woman for whom he suddenly showed sympathy. Yeah. Aliens among us... And what did you expect if Mike Monroe is the new queen of low-budget horror?
So... Welcome to Silver Falls National Park. Oregon. Waterfalls and lakes. Magnificent forest and mountain ranges. These beauties fascinate. It is here that very strange, unexpected events will occur between one of the couples who decided to travel. The beauty of nature is one of the full-fledged main characters of the tape. Nature is more important than the characters themselves. So it seems to me that the authors make a transition to the fact that they are not discussing a fantastic topic at all, but a mundane topic.
As a result, a cute entertaining low-budget film is dynamic, fast, hard and funny. More on the latter. Discussing the relationship with the “invaders from space”, the authors with the most severe sarcasm dissect the fashionable theme of “abuse”.
Why not? In this live tape there is not a drop of studio academicity. I would recommend watching.
Honestly, I’ve been paying attention to ‘Second Half’ because of Mikey Monroe. A beautiful actress, outwardly resembling a young and charming Amber Heard, is not deprived of acting talent and the attention of good screenwriters. Here, casually, several movie hits with Myka are immediately recalled - this is the psychedelic "Frederic Fitzell's Choice", and the amazing "Villains", and the brutal "Guest". So, I thought, there is a high probability that the “second half”, at least, will not disappoint.
In the fabulous autumn forest from the sky falls a bright red object, similar to a meteorite. At the same time, in the same forest, the average American, good-natured young man Harry (Jake Lassie) leads the smiling, talkative, but slightly psychopathic charmer Ruth (Mike Monroe) along the tourist path to a picturesque cliff above the river to make an unforgettable offer of hand and heart. However, due to some of his phobias, Ruth unexpectedly does not accept his offer. There's a fight. A little later, the girl goes out to walk in the forest alone, wanders into a cave, finds a luminous and slimy blue substance there, and then ... There's another Ruth coming back to Harry.
But do not rush to conclude that the intrigue is exhausted and everything is clear with the film. I thought so too, but I was damn wrong. The scriptwriters prepared the viewer a small, but interesting plot “unexpected” ...
Genrely, I would divide the “second half” into three parts.
The setting and development of the plot is rather a fantastic thriller. Beautiful, but mysterious and unfriendly wet autumn forest, gutted carcasses of deer, strange sounds in the night, a cave with an incomprehensible substance, obvious changes with Ruth, the growing tension between the couple in love.
The culmination of the authors of the film for some reason turned out in the style of comedy horror. I wanted it to be scary, but it was ridiculous. For some reason, what is happening on the screen reminded me of the British “Fit” or “Corporate”.
There really was a drama at the end. I would even say that there was a powerful conflict between the heroine and herself. But look at how this movie ends. If, of course, you withstand a very leisurely bout and hold out until the climax...
Excessive dimension of the narrative can scare away from the picture of its potential connoisseurs. The film frankly lacks movement, and the efforts of the authors also to philosophize on the topic “What is love” I caused bewilderment and a barely surmountable desire to “waste” frankly clumsy dialogues.
The plot of “Second half” could easily become a prequel to the first “Skyline” or, for example, “War of the Worlds”. And, judging by the latest footage, the continuation is simply obliged to follow.
As a result, as I expected, my minimum – do not disappoint – the film successfully executed. That wasn't enough.
PS – Slightly above average for stunning autumn forest footage
6 out of 10
The tale tells about a couple in love, who are overtaken by a household woman and they decide to shake up their boring weekend with a hike in the woods. But at some point, an ordinary walk turns into a real nightmare. . .
A fantastic thriller that interferes with a lot of styles and references to horror films, where the influence of Spielberg, Astaire and Kaufman is clearly felt. It turned out ambiguous, but at the same time intriguing, frightening and funny.
The plot has an excellent unexpected refraction already in the middle of the film, which turns the narrative upside down and immediately turns into a tape about the pursuit. Moreover, at some point, one of the characters begins to famously make jokes one after another, and before that, the serious and gloomy atmosphere is dramatically transformed into a black and caustic comedy, and then again takes a course for a tense thriller. Such slides may not come to everyone’s taste, but it looks all damn fun and with interest.
I can not say that I was very impressed with this picture, but I enjoyed spending an hour and a half of viewing, the benefit of directorial jumps in genres is great dilute what you saw on the screen.
Moral: foray into nature is a dubious idea: a mosquito-stripped ass and a pile of ticks in a causal place are unlikely to set up a romantic mood and even more so will save your marriage.
As a result, at first glance, the film is banal, but in the future pleases the plot twerk, a departure from the canons and a mix of genre styles. It is a kind of experiment, and whether it is successful or not, everyone decides for himself.
Significant Other: Love is... C : The Unexpected Side
This thriller reminded me of another thriller – 2015’s Ghost Forest starring Natalie Dormer. There she comes to Aokigahara (Plain of Blue Trees), a Japanese forest at the foot of Mount Fuji on the island of Honshu. Deafening silence, dense trees, rocks that show the water of the ocean and a sign at the entrance to the forest that reads “Your life is a priceless gift from your parents.” Her character Sarah Price is looking for a twin sister, and eventually turns into a Yurei, a ghost from Japanese mythology. And if in 2015 everything was more or less clear, then in 2022 the thriller became more stealthy, directors Dan Burke and Robert Olsen came up with something new.
They left a fleur of Aokigahara, increased the influence of parental influence on the person, and sent the couple to conquer the mountain path. Ruth and Harry have been dating for six years, with whom he has found a clear purpose in life, and who he wants to move forward with, Ruth. And Harry made her a romantic proposal overlooking the waves of the Pacific Ocean.
It is also reminiscent of Peter Weir’s “Picnic at Hanging Rock”, multiplied by Alex Garland’s “Motherhood” – a clash between nature and man, an incredible confrontation in which the second has no chance to win. And not in the case of nature as such, and with one’s own, when long-standing injuries, unsuccessful examples and firm decisions to live in a certain way interfere. The Burke/Olsen film begins with an eerily silent landscape that is disturbed by the intrusion of a shooting star, then we are shown the wildlife, and everything ends with a close-up of a one-horned deer that is attacked by an incomprehensible blue hand from behind.
Next, Ruth and Harry show us, the guy encourages his friend that conquering the Red Ridge Trial is less dangerous than surfing, she will see how great it is, they will still remember in old age their trips to YellowStone, Grand Kanyon – this is a stunning self-confidence in his domination of nature, which meanwhile ominously silent outside the door of his jeep. Ruth argues that she is more comfortable in the ocean, but it is not so simple – sharks due to climate change washed up closer to the shore, and now the waters are not as serene as before climate change.
If you follow the logic of the directors, you can assume that relationships are dangerous as a trip along a mountain path, and love is to put the tent itself when he cooks porridge on the stake. And in general, the beginning of the film “deceives” the viewer, clearly deliberately showing too caring guy next to too anxious girl. They clearly love each other very much, but Ruth's anxiety interferes with their relationship, but she allows her boyfriend to reassure himself, who promises to keep her safe. Again, love is to worry so that he chooses the right calming words.
But it is too simple, but also competent in terms of drawing portraits of the main characters. We are shown Harry – he wants responsibility and stability in the relationship, Ruth – she would rather just be happy and the way she is. In the beginning, they joke about each other and argue amusingly.
It seems to “sleep” alertness, as the script presents a surprise. The authors allow for a bit of fiction and suggest that it would be cooler if people were like functions that understand their duties, but it would not be necessary to analyze what was said, done and seen. History is structured in such a way that there is room for ambiguity. The tense atmosphere along with the ominous signs create an exciting plot.
We are shown some sadomasochistic cyclicality, the notorious nature of man – he is going to relive his pain and become the version that he always wanted to see himself.
No matter how hard you try to escape your worst fears, they continue to haunt you, even in a fictional world like this one created by Dan Burke and Robert Olsen.