JohnnyPHreak

I didn't know how to start this review. I thought I hate Sandra Bullock was a bit too harsh. Even though it's not far from the truth. Then I came up with I'm a movie hipster sometimes. But I've done that before. What could entice some to read this? I think I have your attention now with my honesty. I could go into my hearing about Gravity and then the trailers not doing it for me. Which is also true. But I haven't seen an Alfonso Cuaron film I didn't love. I'm not saying I loved Gravity. It was better than I expect. And a side note that come to play later, the ending was spoiled for me.

The film follows an American crew in space as they do what astronauts do, do experiments and fix equipment. Chaos ensues when debris from a Russian satellite shoots their way. The crew scramble to find a way back to earth before the debris comes in contact with their ship. No spoilers, that is the plot of the entire film.

These astronauts are dealing with a catastrophe in space. A movie like this in just about anyone else's hands would have a slow burn bore. Alfonso Cuaron doesn't make boring films. The man is an artist behind the lens. The first shot of the film last fifteen minutes long. It goes places I've never seen done in a sci-fi film. He comes up some ingenious angles and trickery.

This is the first time that I can fully say the general movie going audience got it right. This is a movie that should make $200 million dollars or more. It's art at it's core. A small story about two people deal with adverse conditions trying not to die. The way the film is shot is unreal. The only sounds are voice and music. There is no sound in space. And I love sci-fi films in space shot that way.

Cuaron puts the audience in space for 90 minutes. And I would happily go back. He pulls out great performances from Clooney and Bullock. Clooney is a bona fide movie star. He brings charisma and gravitas to nearly every role he takes. He plays the grizzled veteran so well. The story he tells at the start of the film makes me feel like I was there in space with them. It sucked me into his character and placed the tension high.

I could watch a whole film with his character just telling stories. Bullock plays the rookie medical examiner on her first mission. Even not being a fan of hers you get why she's an Oscar winning actress. She goes through a range of emotions throughout the film that any less of an actress would haves failed early. But Cuaron makes sure we are on board with these characters before it hits the fan.

What makes the film standout for me is the tension. I had the ending spoiled for me two weeks before I got to the sit down with the film. By the end of the film my nerves were shot and my hands clammy. That's what I call captivating your audience. The film looks so vivid and smooth. Cuaron is auteur and we should all celebrate his being on this planet. I can't wait for this man to take over the world with his film. I could only imagine what he could do with the horror drama or a superhero film. I'm still blown away about what a fantastic piece of art this film was.

When I see the name Alexandre Aja on any project I get pretty excited. So far in his film career he hasn't disappointed. I loved his crazy debut slasher Haute Tension. It still messes with my head and I finally kind of figured out the brick to the face ending. Both remakes of The Hills Have Eyes and Piranha are just plain awesome. The former is a disturbing brutal horror film and the latter being a wild outrageous party type monster movie. Call me overjoyed when the word got out to me that he was teaming up with one of my favorite actors, Daniel Radcliffe, for a horror film called Horns. I have been waiting eagerly for this film and Aja did not disappoint.

Based on the Joe Hill (Stephen King's son) novel, Horns follows Ig portrayed by Daniel Radcliffe, who is a honest, heartfelt guy. He is madly in love with his childhood sweetheart Merrin (Juno Temple). But on the night he wanted to purpose she ends up raped and murdered under their childhood hangout spot. The media and his hometown looking for a culprit brand him the murder instantly. With only his brother Terry (Joe Anderson) and his best friend Lee (Max Minghella) believing him, Ig tries to deal with life as best as he can. After a night of hard drinking which lead to sex with Glenna, a friend he's known for years, Ig wakes up with two horns growing from his skull. In the process of trying to figure out why this is happening he comes to realize these horns make people spew their deepest and darkest secrets. Armed with this knowledge and power he goes on the hunt for Merrin's killer.

This is not a horror movie. I will repeat that just for my own personal gain, this is not a horror film. There are elements of horror in the film. A few brutal gunshots, some dark imagery but nothing that would cross this film over the line into horror film territory. Much like many of Stephen King's stories, this is a dark murder mystery fantasy. Just like Ig, the audience is trying to figure out who's done it. Much less like The Town That Dreaded Sundown remake/sequel the red herrings are few and far between. This is IG's story and partly Merrin's.

Radcliffe I always thought had talent. Stepping away from the Harry Potter films, he stood out well in the horror genre with The Woman in Black. But here, Aja lets the guy go through a physical and emotional roller coaster. Radcliffe takes IG from what could have been a poor beaten soul, but gives him heart and honesty. I felt for him on more than one occasion. He's just a sweet natured guy that has had his world fall around him. With a film of an Oscar caliber nature he's going to be nominated for some big awards in the years to come.

Being that Radcliffe holds the film together he's helped along but some good supporting roles. Joe Anderson continues to shine anytime I see him. In this he goes through more than one character and brother should. David Morse portrays Merrin's father Dale with fire. There are two scenes between him and Radcliffe that sucked me in. I would have love to see more of them two sharing the screen together. Two actors that know their craft taking the material up a notch.

Aja paints the film based in reality, where now a days the media and mob rule condemn a person of a heinous crime before the facts are out. There is a hilarious scene where IG gets the trolling media to beat it out literally for a chance to have his story rights. The narrative is a murder mystery built around these characters. We are shown flashbacks of key moments that set future actions and motives in motion. It's nice for me that we can see these character grow up a bit to explain how they act when older. The comedy comes from most of IG's interaction when people see his horns. Most of the humor is dark and at times vile. But it got me to laugh a few times and be stunned at others.

This is one of those film that comes out of nowhere and just excites me to tell my friends to see. I had to scream it everywhere. Aja is my favorite new horror director but with Horns he steps out of his comfort zone to make a dramatic heartfelt story about a murder that tears a town apart. My only issues would be that halfway through with my inquisitive mind, I figured out the killer. But that's because I'm always trying to figure out who did it instead of letting the narrative play out.

I have read that ending in the book is different, playing out a bit longer with more explanation. I would have like that much. It seemed like the film rushed to the finale and the 'battle' of sorts could have been stretched out. That aside, Aja with a great performance from Radcliffe has made one of my favorite films to come out this year. I'm excited to see them both step out of the norm again because it seems when they do we all prosper.

8.2 out of 10