Displaying items by tag: Heather Graham

THEY WILL KILL YOU

US, 2026, 94 minutes, Colour.

Zazie Beetz, Patricia Arquette, Heather Graham, Tom Felton, Myha'la, Patterson Joseph.

Directed by Kirill Sokolov.

Over the top – sometimes physically with gymnastic leaps of fights with knives, axes, swords. This is a hyper-terror and menace film, though with an increasing amount of horror. It begins with some violent human interactions but soon veers into a Manhattan covenant of Satanists.

Probably best first to alert audiences who find a lot of bloodletting and slashing in films that they will probably find this one too much (understatement). Those who with glee describe thei response to this kind of ultra-violence as “fun”, definitely their film.

The title is accurate. However, there is an underlying plot which gives the film some character and dramatic momentum. The film opens with a brutal father, his daughters trying to flee, the confrontation, the shooting, the older daughter, Asia, caught, in prison, the younger, Maria, back to her father’s control. When Asia gets out, it looks something like a possible revenge story on the father as well is the rescue of her sister.

But…

Who would have thought of an enormous Manhattan building, old classic style, corridors reminiscent of The Shining, a huge staff of maids, a collection of self-indulgent, rich clients? Well, perhaps a lot of screenwriters. But, this is the work of a Russian director, Kyrill Litkov, successfully invading the territory of American slasher screenwriters. He is a director with the courage of his intentions, no holds barred, especially in the continuous, incessant, confrontations, one-to-one, group attacks – with a surprising discovery, especially by Asia, that while these inhabitants can die excruciatingly, they have the satanic power of rising from the dead, an everlasting cycle of death and new life.

As with so many of these terror films, there are also sequences so exaggerated, they are played for laughs, part of the fun. A lot of the resurrections from the dead are parodies of the violence – and special note for that gouged-out eye that scurries along the crawlspaces spying.

The star of this film is Zazie Beetz, tough, prison-hardened, willing to take on everyone. And she does. And over and over… There is an interesting supporting cast including veterans Patricia Arquette (acting like a cousin of Amy Madigan in Weapons – but Patricia Arquette already has an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress), Heather Graham and, a long way from Hogwarts, Tom Felton.

Zazie Beetz has to portray one of the most put-upon screen heroines for a long time, a will to survival, a will to save her sister, and a will to destroy Satan himself.

Just as well, They Will Kill You is definitely anti-Satan.

BEST. CHRISTMAS, EVER!

US, 2023, 82 minutes, Colour.

Heather Graham, Brandy Norwood, Jason Biggs, Matt Cedeno, Wyatt Hunt, Abby Villasmil, Madison Skye Validum.

Directed by Mary Lambert.

There are so many, many Christmas shows that are released every year, especially on streaming services.

Perhaps the cast will attract an audience, veteran Heather Graham (actually 50-51 at the time of filming which stretches credibility somewhat), and the popular Jason Biggs from the American Pie films. Brandy Norwood is a popular singing artist. And the direction is by veteran Mary Lambert, almost 50 years of film and television, making a mark in the 1980s with her version of Stephen King’s Pet Sematery (and filming a sequel).

But, having a look at the comments on the IMDb, it is a litany of derogatory mocking and condemnation. But…, This is a Christmas film.

What makes it different is that for the children generation, it raises a question of whether Santa Claus is real. And, for the adult generation, there has to be a willing suspension of disbelief that the perfect family exists and that a perfect happy Christmas family story is possible. (In the film, yes, in real life, highly doubtful.)

Brandy Norwood’s Jackie sends out a magazine Christmas card every year with photos of the achievement of the family. Her friend from college days, Charlotte, Heather Graham, resents these cards. Jackie has the perfect marriage, the most precociously intelligent daughter, already a Harvard student with expertise knowledge of finance (though conducting her research as to the existence of Santa Claus). It looks as though Jackie can do everything, en aviation company at a profit, construct a hot air balloon… And her husband, Valentino, Matt Part Cedeno, seems perfect in every way.

By contrast, Charlotte has not achieved her ambitions, has a sense of disappointment, does love her husband, and her two children, one of whom is always accompanied by a cartoon -looking toy, a monkey who gives him advice. Some  of the advice the monkey gives is that the son insert Jackie’s address into the GPS – and, a surprise arrival, plenty of jealous activity on Charlotte’s part, Ron being nice, happy memories of his past dating and playing music with Jackie. And the children get on very well.

All kinds of ups and downs, but to checking on Santa, all kinds of accidents, all kinds of reconciliations, a touch of sadness with the death of Jackie and Valentino’s son, but a Christmas pageant, the hot air balloon is the star of Bethlehem, and, all things, Charlotte dressed as Santa riding in his sleigh, including the Gospel story, but a transition to popular singing with Mary and the angels swinging along to the melody.

The last screenplay by writer-director, Charles Shyer, Baby Boom, Father of the Bride.

It is all very cheerful – but, apparently too impossible and too cheerful for many of the bloggers.