The Sadness – Flash Review

The Sadness is a 2021 Taiwanese horror movie directed by Rob Jabbaz. It stars Brent Zhu, Regina Lei and Tzu-Chiang Wang

What’s it about?:
A rage virus hits Taiwan and two lovers on opposite ends of the city try to find each other.

Is it good?:
It is. I think?

Did you enjoy it:
Kind of? Look, I’m not squeamish at all but there are a few scenes in this movie that left me staring at the screen in shock. I’ve seen just about everything. One of the first movies I remember writing a review for was High Tension and that’s a movie that really isn’t afraid to “go there.” The Sadness is hyper violent and it never pulls back or shies away from doing the things that most other horror movies only hint at.

Tzu-Chiang Wang was phenomenal as “The Businessman” though. One of the best villains I’ve seen in a movie in quite some time.

Do you recommend it?:
I do not. You know those horror movies you love that are so supremely fucked up you just can’t in good conscience recommend them to another living soul? This is one of them.

Final thoughts:
Definitely not for the squeamish. There’s a solid lovers trying to reunite story here but there’s some pretty disturbing imagery throughout.

X – Flash Review

X is a 2022 movie directed by Ti West and starring Mia Goth.

What’s it about?: The quest to make a porno movie in rural Texas

Is it good?: Yes. It’s very good. It’s superbly shot and acted. The score is phenomenal and while there aren’t many “scares”, the tension and dread are top notch.

Did you enjoy it: I don’t know. I wanted to? Again, if you’ve seen a Ti West movie you already know it’s beautifully shot and the tension is handled masterfully. My complaint is a petty one. Stop putting young people in makeup to look like they’re in their 80s. They also did this in Midnight Mass and it was so distracting it took me right out of it.

Do you recommend it?: I do. With the added note that I was ripped right out of the movie every time Pearl (played by Mia Goth) was onscreen. It shouldn’t bug me this much but it does. I can see other people not caring and they will probably enjoy it a lot more than I did.

Final thoughts: It’s good but I am nothing if not petty and the makeup bothered me to the point that I stopped caring what went on.

Review – Blood Incantation: Timewave Zero

About a year ago I heard Blood Incantation for the first time. A good friend of mine showed me Hidden Histories of the Human Race and I fell in love with it. That album went places and moved me in ways that Death Metal normally doesn’t. The soundscapes, the melodies and the weirdness all combine to make it a masterpiece. Continue reading Review – Blood Incantation: Timewave Zero

Review – A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay

 

This one was a really fun read. A Head Full of Ghosts is a novel about the Barrett family and the tragedy that befell them. Their eldest daughter Marjorie begins displaying odd behavioural changes and after psychiatry doesn’t help, the father enlists the help of an exorcist. The Barrett family is also going through hard times so they reluctantly agree to be the subjects of a reality TV show called The Possession. Continue reading Review – A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay