Film Fight 2023: October

#FF23 Talk To Me is an excellent modern horror.

The rules are laid out clearly, and the messiness of breaking them is clear. That one scene (you'll know which) was absolutely gruesome, but not gratuitous. Just well-handled the whole way through.

Very good.

— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) October 8, 2023

#FF23 The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial is a tight, performance and plot focussed courtroom drama.

You expect a flashback that isn't coming: Friedkin's final film is about the truth as the witnesses see it, not what happened. Deftly paced and unveiled.

Excellent.

— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) October 8, 2023

#FF23 The Creator is a composite of a bunch of stuff you've seen before.

It's not bad, maybe a little long, but there's nothing fresh here. Some of the action works well enough, and it's enjoyable as mindless fodder but you'll likely forget it pretty quickly.

Fine.

— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) November 4, 2023

#FF23 You're Killing Me is a decent horror thriller about a young woman trying to escape a bad situation.

The middle section of the film is strung out a little long, and the ending is a little ridiculous, but it builds tension reasonably well. People largely do smart stuff

Okay

— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) November 4, 2023

#FF23 Totally Killer is a fun horror comedy that plays with sci-fi and horror tropes gleefully.

The blasé attitudes of the 80s are played for laughs, which works well. The plot is a little predictable, but fun enough. Shipka makes the whole thing come together.

Good.

— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) November 4, 2023

#FF23 Pain Hustlers is the story of the disastrous sales culture in US pharmaceuticals.

You can see where it's going from the outset, but it's a decent ride getting there. Blunt and Evans are both very good in their roles, bringing empathy and sleaze in the right amounts.

Good.

— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) November 4, 2023