A grieving couple who recently lost their only son decide to adopt a young boy with extraordinary, and incredibly dangerous, powers!
What you have to understand, keep it forefront in your mind because the Hobsons sure did, is that Sean’s death was an accident. Dad Mark (Thomas Jane) wasn’t there, Mom Jessie (Kate Bosworth) stepped away for just a minute or two, tops, and Sean drowned in only a few inches of water in the bathtub. It as an accident, yes, group therapy understands this and all that guilt and everything else Mom and Dad deal with, but they’ve chosen to attempt to fill that awful void now. By adopting a young orphan boy of similar approximate age to Sean (Antonio Romero) named Cody.
We know Cody (Jacob Tremblay) was the poor soul with a gun pointed at him from the opening blip of the film, so we gather the kid has something unique about him that potentially inspires murder, but what it turns out to be is far better, and terrifyingly much worse, than anyone could have guessed.
Yes, I am going to spoil it for everyone; deal. Cody is extraordinarily gifted in that, wait for it, his dreams can literally come true. We know Cody loves butterflies; the Hobsons encounter a cross between a firefly and a Monarch, lighting
up their living room like fairies. We know Cody wants to please the Hobsons, they certainly seem like gentle, caring souls; what could possibly make grieving parents the happiest?
From this question, as Jessie begins to clutch at Cody like an addict, we learn at least some of the extent of Cody’s powers – he had to have heard Sean’s voice to make his dream complete, so Jessie played him a video of the Hobson family previous Christmas, complete with Sean in his jammies everywhere, laughing and giggling and being alive. And next thing you know, the addict and her husband have both had a fix, a drug in the form of a little sad, scared boy who genuinely only wants to be good, but just can’t help getting scared sometimes. That’s when shit gets hairy.
Cody is a bright child, very bright as it turns out, and his desires when awake to be helpful and good everywhere are noble, absolutely. But he is still a child, and when he sleeps and can’t help but fear, this malevolent force Cody named the Canker Man, manifests in all its shuddersome glory. The Canker Man comes, and he/it is without mercy or pity, there is no stopping the Canker Man at all, he/it usually pops out and carts off the main person Cody has come to love, and ultimately, fear for too. They just poof, disappear, into utter nothingness – there is NO stopping the Canker Man.
After Mark gets effectively eaten by the Canker Man, Jessie decides to do some investigating of her own. A visit to the orphanage Cody came from and some talk with his caretaker Natalie (Annabeth Gish), fraught discussion with Cody’s former foster father in a nuthouse too, and Jessie believes she knows what needs to be done to save that poor abandoned boy, finally.
No child should be chided for their fears, but they do need to be taught how to deal with them as a proper civilized person would, and Cody, way more so than your average kid, because he simply isn’t your average kid. Most, not all but most, children need a caring mother, and not all families are born from blood. Jessie clearly demonstrates that a mothers love can embrace all monsters, show courage in the face of nebulous black fears, and forgive damn near anything you might have done as an utterly terrified child.
Before I Wake does an excellent job at showcasing the wonders and terrors imminent in raising a child, regardless of whether that child came from your own loins or not. Children are often presented in horror films as the only ones who can see the monsters, and therefore think they have to deal with them all alone, never believed, always condemned for events they honestly did not do. While ‘Before I Wake’ takes a fun twist on this kiddie-Horror concept, the handling of raising gifted children and parental grief is something we can all appreciate, and Netflix approached the story with grace and love.
Don’t let the Canker Man get you, catch his nasty truth in Before I Wake on Netflix now!
Director: Adhik Ravichandran
Starring: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Das, Trisha, Simran
Genre: Action / Crime Drama
Rating: 4.5/5
“Good Bad Ugly” centers on Red Dragon (Ajith Kumar), a notorious gangster who chooses to surrender himself in the hopes of turning over a new leaf and reuniting with his estranged son. However, when unforeseen threats emerge, Red Dragon is forced to step back into the dangerous underworld to protect the only family he has left.
“Good Bad Ugly” plays to the strengths of Ajith Kumar, delivering a fan-pleasing portrayal of both his vintage villainy and his matured emotional depth. Ajith’s powerful screen presence, coupled with his iconic voice, shines against Arjun Das’s brooding and intense new-age antagonist, creating an electric old-school versus new-school dynamic. The nostalgic return of Simran is a clever nod to longtime fans, bringing heart and familiarity. Trisha brings a strong, grounded performance as the moral compass in Red Dragon’s life, helping move the emotional threads of the story. The film smartly balances action, comedy, and sentimental fan-service moments.
While the film delivers on fan expectations, its narrative could have benefited from tighter pacing and deeper character development for its supporting cast. Some plot conveniences and an overreliance on nostalgia may limit broader audience appeal beyond the fanbase. Certain dramatic beats felt rushed, leaving little time for emotional resonance to fully land.
The ambition to blend high-octane action with heavy emotional stakes sometimes leads to tonal inconsistencies. At moments, the shift from gritty underworld drama to lighter fan moments feels abrupt. Additionally, though Ajith Kumar’s effort to showcase his dancing skills is commendable and welcomed by fans, it slightly disrupts the otherwise darker tone the film establishes.
“Good Bad Ugly” is a tribute to Ajith Kumar’s enduring legacy, offering vintage thrills while teasing new dimensions to his craft. It’s a solid entertainer that successfully taps into fan nostalgia while hinting at an exciting evolution for AK. While not without its flaws, the film’s heart, energy, and performances make it a must-watch for fans and a compelling action-drama for broader audiences.
In these uncertain times, you can’t beat a good old-fashioned horror movie. Unfortunately, Presence is not an old-fashioned horror movie. Yet, as I discovered, this is a good thing!
When I heard about the premise of this movie, I was intrigued. The stylishly subtle trailer was, appropriately, haunting. And was that Lucy Liu? A haunted house movie from the perspective of the ghost? As a seasoned horror movie buff, I was all in!
Like the majority of people I missed the films brief theatrical release. Luckily I was able to catch it on streaming. Visually the film is easy to enjoy from your own home, as it’s rather cosy looking. I never thought I’d be describing a horror movie as ‘cosy’ looking but it’s true! This is not a James Wan type creepy, dusty, decrepit house harbouring a haunting. No, this is a 100 year old jewel toned, oak finished colonial style home.
Despite this the story follows the beats we are all familiar with: troubled family of four move into a new house. The big deviation from the trope is we, the audience, are seeing events unfold from the POV of the ghost or presence.
Director Steven Soderbergh (Ocean’s Eleven) chose to film the entire piece using a small (14mm) hand-held digital camera. Soderbergh himself acted as the ‘presence’ following the actors around. From the audiences perspective it is like watching the family through a barrier or pane of glass. Cleverly, windows and mirrors are hugely prominent and integral throughout.
The presence mainly follows and tries to interact with the daughter of the family, Chloe (Callina Liang), who has recently suffered the trauma of her best friend dying suddenly. Through Soderbergh’s experimental filming, we feel the dysphoria and frustration the ‘ghost’ is feeling at trying to affect the world around it, particularly during the anxiety-inducing final scene!
However, in what could be yet another mismarketing of a film, the trailer promised to be the ‘scariest movie you will see this year’ and ‘terrifying’; instead, they delivered this subversive, character-driven, family drama. If you are expecting jump scares and dramatic music stings, this is not your movie. I could understand if someone was disappointed that the only seemingly scary thing is the mother’s and son’s relationship, right up until the gut-punch of the final scene.
Presence is definitely a slow burn, tension building until the final scene, and the unveiling of the ‘presence’ giving us a new understanding of the whole story. The ending is disturbing and stays with you as you re-analyse earlier scenes.
My one complaint is that the character Ryan (West Mulholland) with his Chesney Hawkes hair, perhaps needed more subtlety. The rest of the cast was completely solid and believable as a family with so many unspoken issues.
I wouldn’t recommend this film for everybody but maybe be as so bold to say it’s a horror movie for people that don’t like horror movies. It’s well-lit and cerebral with realistically flawed characters.
Presence is available to stream.
Three and a half stars.
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Martial Arts, Historical
Runtime: Each episode runs approximately 20-30 minutes
Director: Lin Hun (also the Creator)
Studio: Samsara Animation Studio
Main Voice Actors (Chinese Cast):Liu Zhi Shi as Wen Ren Yu Xuan Zhou Qi as Shen Nong Fang Yuan as Xuan
Overview
Fog Hill of the Five Elements is a breathtaking Chinese anime (donghua) that merges traditional Chinese ink-painting aesthetics with high-intensity martial arts action. Created and directed by Lin Hun, this series delivers a spellbinding visual experience that rivals, and in many ways surpasses, mainstream Japanese anime. Produced by Samsara Animation Studio, the anime is a labor of love, known for its hand-drawn animation and meticulous detail.
Set in a mythological world where elemental beasts roam free, the series follows the Five Elemental Envoys tasked with protecting humanity. The story focuses on Wen Ren Yu Xuan, the Fire Envoy, whose actions set off a chain of events threatening the delicate balance between humans and beasts. The tale is steeped in Chinese folklore and myth, weaving a complex narrative of duty, power, and sacrifice.
Without question, Fog Hill of the Five Elements is one of the most visually stunning animated series in recent memory. The blend of traditional Chinese ink wash painting with modern dynamic action scenes is masterful. Every frame looks like a moving scroll painting, with fluid character movements and kinetic fight choreography that puts many mainstream series to shame.
The characters are deeply tied to traditional archetypes found in Chinese legends but are fleshed out with emotional depth and conflict. Voice acting by Liu Zhi Shi, Zhou Qi, and Fang Yuan brings authenticity and gravitas to their respective roles. The dialogue is steeped in poetic language, enhancing the mythic feel of the story.
The soundtrack complements the epic visuals with traditional Chinese instrumentation mixed with modern elements. The sound design heightens the impact of every battle and emotional moment.
Rating: 9/10
Fog Hill of the Five Elements earns a 9 out of 10 for its groundbreaking animation style, deep mythological storytelling, and heart-pounding action. The only downside is its limited number of episodes and slow release schedule, which leaves fans craving more.
Pros
- Unparalleled hand-drawn animation
- Unique art direction inspired by traditional Chinese painting
- Rich mythological lore
- Epic fight choreography
Cons
- Sparse episode release
- Story pacing can be uneven at times
Final Verdict 9/10
If you’re an anime enthusiast or a fan of animation artistry, Fog Hill of the Five Elements is a must-watch. Its fusion of stunning visuals, martial arts action, and mythological storytelling makes it one of the standout titles in modern animation. Whether you’re into Japanese anime or Chinese donghua, this series deserves a spot on your watchlist.
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Presence: A Horror Movie For People That Don’t Like Horror Movies
Anime Review: Fog Hill of the Five Elements (Wu Shan Wu Xing)
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Review of “Good Bad Ugly”
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