Displaying items by tag: Kathryn Newton

READY OR NOT: HERE I COME

US, 2026,114 minutes, Colour.

Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Elijah Wood, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Sean Hatosy, David Cronenberg, Olivia Chang, Antony Hall, Nestor Carbonell, Kevin Durand.

Directed by Mark Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillette.

It is six years since the original film made such an impact, popularity, positive critical reviews. It had a complex plot and characters, dangerous situations, deadly games and hunting, guess, conflict between the wealthy and the poorer, the suggestions of Satanism. At the centre is Samara Weaving as Grace, the young bride in the first film, the target of the deadly game of High and Seek, satanic ritual whereby she becomes the hunted by the rest of the family, a sacrifice in the perverse satanic world.

The sequel, with the addition of Here I Come, a strong affirmation by Grace, Samara Weaving appearing again (and, as suggested previously, passing for Margot Robbie’s sister).

The sequel takes up from the past, lots of references to the characters and action of the past and sinister plots and menacing games. But, while there is a repetition of the plot, a repetition of the dangerous hunt with even more complex situations, there are some additions to the plot, especially the introduction of the estranged sister of Grace, played by vigorous Kathryn Newton. This time, they will share in being hunted together, reconciling, clashing, falling out, but a final coming together and victory over the satanic machinations and rituals.

Also added this time is the character of the family lawyer, smooth and smart, sinister, explaining the regulations and the families commitment to a mysterious and sinister character who controls the family and its destiny, creating its satanic laws. He is played by Elijah Wood, presiding over the satanic sacrifice but, somehow unexpectedly, surviving.

Also added is the development that there are various families involved in having the ring from the original founder of the group, is gaining power over everyone and control of the fortune. And, this time, there are Hispanic rivals, Indians, Chinese, all arriving for the ritual and hunt. Sarah Michelle Gellar and, a somewhat demented Shawn Hatosy are ruthless villains.

There is also an intriguing cameo at the opening from master-director, David Cronenberg, who is a larger-than-life portrait intimidates throughout the film.

The mansion is large, the grounds also large, patrons celebrating weddings and playing the casinos hurried out so that the rich can commence their deadly ritual game. So, all kinds of hunting, hiking, traps and ambushes, betrayals, greater use of developed technology from the last film, as well as betrayals, cowardice, really unpleasant characters – and, for those breaking the rules, as previously, the characters exploding.

The review of the first film complained about the tiresome language. The same here, though more so, all the characters have an extremely limited four lettered vocabulary more than frequently invoked, no creativity in invective and exasperation expressions.

The final ritual where the disciples have all gathered leads to violent and chaotic mayhem of destruction during the satanic ritual – with Elijah Wood looking on while the two sisters, at last, reconciled, lacerations and wounds galore, facing their future (and another sequel?) together.

ABIGAIL

US, 2024, 109 minutes, Colour.

Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Alisha Weir, William Catlett, Kathryn Newton, Kevin Durand, Angus Cloud, Giancarlo Esposito, Matthew Goode.

Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillette.

Abigail was a successful horror-thriller of 2024 directed by the duo who were responsible for Ready or Not, the remake of Scream and Scream VI. It has a strong cast of character actors – invited to act and overreact!

The film begins with the young Abigail, Irish actor Alisha Weir, a ballet dancer, Swan Lake. And she is observed by a number of people at the theatre and in waiting vehicles. What follows is a kidnapping. They are  not known to each other, not knowing anything about the girl or her family, are trapped in a house for 24 hours by the intermediary, Giancarlo Esposito.

There is a lot of complaint on the IMDb that the trailers gave away the major twist of the film. It is certainly better for the audience not to know anything about the film before they start to watch it.

So, very strong spoiler alert.

The switch in the screenplay is that it becomes a vampire film, the little girl an age-old vampire, her father a master criminal. When the revelation is made, the main part of the plot is her attacking the various members of the kidnapping group. They have codenames, the central character, Joey (Melissa Barrera) has a skill of explaining some of the background of each of them so the audience knows their personalities, skills, dark secrets.

There are very few holds barred in the presentation of the vampire attacks, especially the bloodsucking and the destruction scenes, massive blood explosions as each character passes into eternity. There are various betrayals, revelation of secrets, the role of the young girl, the final appearance of her father (a surprise in Matthew Goode).

Dan Stevens is the leader of the group, it is a pity that the most sympathetic of the group played by Will Catlett is killed early. Angus Cloud is the young sociopath. Kevin Durand is the heavy. The other female participant is the tech expert, played by Kathryn Newton.

A lot of the action and performance is very much tongue in cheek, touches of comedy and parody, and a huge overload of coarse wearing language.

For the fans of horror films with twists.

LISA FRANKENSTEIN

US, 2024, 101 minutes, Colour.

Kathryn Newton, Liza Soberano, Cole Sprouse, Carla Gigino, Joe Chrest, Henry Eikenberry, Bryce Romero.

Directed by Zelda Williams.

For a while at the opening of the film, this seems to be just another high school comedy/drama, the target audience seeming to be the kind of girls that were portrayed. A very limited audience.

However, there are indications that this film will be not exactly what we might be anticipating. There is a clue when we see that the screenplay was written by Diablo Cody, Oscar winner for Juno, her films including Jennifer’s Body, and a focus on fiction for younger readers, Tully, Young Adult and the screenplay for the Meryl Streep musical vehicle, Ricki and the Flash.

The central character, Lisa, is played by Kathryn Newton (Big Little Lies). The mother has been killed by an intrusive burglar, visualised), her father soon married again, Lisa inheriting a kind of wicked stepmother of the constant criticism kind, played by Carla Gugino, and a welcoming sister, Taffy (Liza Silverado).

But, Lisa is emotionally erratic, sometimes withdrawn, sometimes prickly, spending a lot of time in the forest, a cemetery where she sees the bust of a young musician from the 19^th century with whom she becomes infatuated.

And, unpredictably, it goes on from there, probably testing the patience of many viewers, tantalising others so much so that there are predictions that it will become a cult classic.

We are soon moving into Tim Burton territory, touches of Beetlejuice, memories of Edward Scissorhands with the Creature plaintively resembling a mute Johnny Depp as Edward.

The film is billed as a coming of RAGE film, the young musician struck by lightning and coming alive, billed as The Creature (played by Cole Sprouse), so, echoes of Frankenstein. Lots of complications as the Creature takes up residence in the house, hiding and sleeping in the cupboard, mute with several body parts missing. A possible romance, especially on his part, memories of his grief in his real-life, but Lisa with her eye on a sexual liaison with the editor of the school magazine who has praised her poems.

So, while the film works on this strange Frankenstein variation, it becomes very violent, The Creature impulsively acting on Lisa’s behalf, the death of her stepmother, the mutilation of her science lab partner who groped her, and increasing threats.

On the other hand, there is something lyrical about The Creature at home, gradually looking more human, acquiring more parts, the hand of the groper, able to play the piano, the stepmother’s ear, and (a critic suggested moving into John Waters territory) killing and castrating the would-be lover and taking his penis.

Complications at school, complications with the family, especially with the typical teenager new sister whom she catches with the editor.

What is Lisa to do, to live eternally with The Creature, going into the tanning machine, burning up – and a glimpse of eternity, The Creature reading to the reclining Lisa, a poem by Shelley.

One might say you couldn’t make it up – but Diablo Cody has, the cast is obviously very committed to it, and direction is by Zelda Williams, her first feature film after many music videos.

Cult classic? But it certainly is different!