The Beguiled (2017)

The slow first two acts are a fairly bland main course (colourless cinematography and a lack of music don’t help) but in hindsight they do well in setting up the thrilling third act dessert with its deliciously sinister climax and brilliant cherry-on-top final shot (with ominous score icing): the women played with the polite man until his destructive patriarchal power emerged and threatened, and now the understanding of the titular character(s) is subverted. Kidman’s turn is a chilling standout.

6

Super 8 (2011)

During the summer of 1979, a group of friends witness a train crash and investigate subsequent unexplained events in their small town. (IMDb)

With its nostalgic setting and strong young cast playing a loveable group of adolescent boys (with a tragic lead) caught up in a very “adult” situation, the film recalls “Stand By Me”, but with a sci-fi mystery twist–and while this results in less character depth than that of the 1986 classic, it also gives the plot more drive and intrigue, although that in turn is fumbled in a shoddily-written conclusion. Flaws aside though, this is still a unique, great-looking, and highly enjoyable flick.

7.5/10 (Really Good)