MOVIE REVIEW: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

Adventure, Fantasy

Directed By: David Yates 

When the final Harry Potter film hit theaters just five years ago many long-time fans of the franchise, like myself, thought we were done seeing the wizarding world on the big screen. Without any more books, it just seemed like an impossibility, so when news broke that J.K. Rowling herself was going to pen the script for a new spin-off series the fandom got excited. There are infinite stories that could be told within this world and starting it off with the tale of famed Wizard Newt Scamander seemed like the perfect place to start.

If you are unfamiliar with the Harry Potter lore, no worries, this film is easy to get into regardless of your history with the franchise. The movie tells the story of famous wizard Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) as he travels the magical world studying the creatures that inhabit it in preparation for his book, 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'. This first movie (as of now there are going to be four more) starts at the beginning of his journey in 1920's New York where his trip collides with a dark force currently threatening the city. With the help of some new friends, he must navigate an area of the wizarding world he is unfamiliar with in order to keep the peace between the magic and non-magic worlds.

It's important to state upfront that this movie is not Harry Potter. What I mean by that is this story, though in the same world, feels quite different in tone than the franchise so many have come to love. There is plenty to remind you that this is once again the wizarding world of J.K. Rowling's mind but they do a great job of allowing this to exist on its own without being bogged down by set-in-stone mythology.

Rather than shape itself into an epic story on the scale of its predecessors, Fantastic Beasts is totally fine with existing as a thrilling adventure tale. Think of Newt Scamander as a kind of Indiana Jones of this world, while the rest of the wizarding community is focusing on "big picture" issues Newt is roaming the streets in search of rare and powerful creatures. This, in turn, introduces us to the true scale of the magic world outside of Hogwarts.

Centering in on Newt and his research proved to be the right move as it was refreshing to follow someone in this world that isn't one of, if not the most powerful wizards alive. Watching a story unfold that isn't all about "the chosen one" was a good change of pace, knowing our main character is rarely the most powerful person in the room added a different level of tension that wasn't there before. In the Potter movies whenever the going got tough we always knew Harry would come out on top, whether because of luck or natural power whereas with Newt the outcome is never certain.

This time it isn't just about the witches and wizards, though, as the title boasts this film is chock full of magical creatures. Upon Newts arrival to New York, a handful of them escapes his nifty briefcase and he must find them all before they wreak havoc on the people living there. The creatures themselves are wonderful and the designs look gorgeous. The CG doesn't hold them back and they all fit seamlessly into the magic world and all add their own charms to the movie. 

Academy Award-winning actor Eddie Redmayne heads the cast as Newt Scamander and owns the part. Some people may be turned off by his quirky shyness and inability to look just about anyone in the eyes but I found it to be an interesting take. After watching eight movies with the "fearless" Harry I thoroughly enjoyed following a lead who was just as unsure of himself all of the time as the people around him were. 

Aside from Newt, who most Potterheads were already familiar enough with, the movie also introduces a handful of new and interesting characters like Graves, played by the always fantastic Colin Farrel, a nasty Auror in the American wizarding world. Maybe the most compelling of those side characters is the muggle Kowalski played by the brilliantly funny Dan Fogler. We rarely get to focus in on the "no-maj" folk in these stories so to see one follow them along the entire movie was a unique treat. 

Katherine Waterson rounds out the main cast of the film as former Auror Tina. She is fighting to do whatever she can to be reinstated and before long she becomes a fine ally to Newt. Her performance is great and I look forward to seeing more of her character in the future. The rest of the cast is populated with all kinds of familiar faces (and voices) like Ezra Miller, Jon Voight, and Ron Perlman each adding their own unique flavor to the mix. These characters help set much of the groundwork needed for future installments in the franchise.

At this point in time, director David Yates (who directed the final four Potter movies) has got more than a handle on this world. The magic battles are visually wonderful and exciting and all of the "magical jargon" works regardless of how ridiculous it sounds. Though it would be interesting to see someone else's take going forward it's hard to complain about him being the guy to helm the entire series.

Going into this movie I think it's safe to say what most of us wanted most was to see the world of magic expanded far beyond the limits of Hogwarts and England and to get an idea of how this society operates all over the known world. Though this movie only takes us to New York, giving us a glimpse into the American side of things, it teases us with the idea of so much more. This is a massive universe with so many things to explore and this movie is only the beginning. Going in I was skeptical of the five movie run Rowling is claiming this will have, but upon leaving the theater I was ready for the next four. 

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!

MOVIE REVIEW: Arrival

Arrival (2016)

Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi

Directed By: Denis Villeneuve

The idea of how to handle the first contact with an alien race has been one of our favorite "what if" scenarios to explore in science fiction for as long as the idea has been around. Popular movies like Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind implanted the idea that if aliens were to ever come here, how we try to interact with them will be the most important hurdle to overcome. You can't get through an "alien invasion" movies these days without some form of this scene taking place, but what if you dedicated an entire movie to the reality of what that first contact would actually look like? Denis Villeneuve digs deep into this idea with his latest film Arrival, a realistic as can be alien invasion movie that explores the difficulties and importance of intelligent communication. 

When twelve mysterious UFO's make landing all over the planet the U.S. government enlists renowned linguist Dr. Louis Banks (Amy Adams) to help them create a dialogue with the mysterious aliens to try and find out why they have come here. With the help of theoretical physicist Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner)  and a team of other scientists and linguists, they attempt to open a communication that both species can understand in hopes of discovering why they have come here and what their intentions are. 

The film sells itself as an alien invasion movie, which it is, but mostly on the surface. What it turns into by the end is a message to the world about the importance of clear and open communication and how our natural isolationism and nationalism divide us as a race. The film spits in our face, calling us out for all of the truly idiotic tendencies we have all before wrapping it up with a hopeful message that we can still change for the better. 

It's no secret that one of, if not the biggest dividing factors of our people is language. The inability to communicate with someone is a key factor in the division of the world, and it always has been. This proves itself throughout the film as Dr. Banks and her crew is constantly being stonewalled by countries like China and Russia, who have no desire to share information or hear out others opinions on the matter. As you can imagine, this proves to be one of the most difficult obstacles for them to overcome within the movie. 

Villeneuve keeps this film from being a total bummer, however, by keeping the hope alive whenever it all seems lost. Even when the worst happens they somehow find a way back and by the end of the film he has driven home the message he wants us to receive: listen. He begs us to simply just listen to each other and hear out what we all have to say. The sharing of ideas and culture has always been the fastest route to progression for humanity. 

The story, for the most part, revolves around Amy Adams character Dr. Banks and she has never been better. With the movie hinging on her performance it is important her character feels authentic throughout. The way she reacts to first contact and being on an alien spacecraft had to feel real and she sells it in a profound way. Jeremy Renner's Ian Donnelly more or less plays sidekick to Dr. Banks but proves to be the perfect companion for her on this journey. The two leads are also complimented by great performances from Forest Whitaker and Michael Stuhlbarg as the military men running the show. 

As with all Vllienueve films, we can't get out of here without talking about the gorgeous cinematography on display here. Bradford Young (Selma) captures the massive scale of the film with limited space, as most of it takes place in an open field in Montana, and with just a handful of locations is able to convey worldwide panic. Story aside this is just a gorgeous film to look at for two hours.

Though the story has its twists and turns to make it a compelling and authentic piece of science fiction you shouldn't get too caught up with that as a viewer. Rather than sitting there trying to crack the big twists enjoy what the filmmaker has to say about humanity and how the ideas he puts forth can be used in our actual lives. Focus on all of that and let the clever plot of the story surprise you in the end. If you can do that, I promise you will leave with a ton of ideas and theories to wrap your brain around that focus on much more than just an alien invasion.  

Though you probably won't leave the theater with a smile plastered on your face, Arrival is more or less the movie we need right now. It manages to scare the living hell out of us while also showing us that there is, and always will be, hope for change. What may be broken now doesn't have to be forever and if we can overcome these simple hurdles than we will be far better off as a people. Science fiction is at its best when it holds a mirror up to ourselves in an unlikely situation, showing us how obvious it is that we need to change, and right now we need to change the way we interact with each other.

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!

MOVIE REVIEW: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016)

Adventure, Drama, Fantasy

Directed By: Tim Burton 

Since the turn of the century, Tim Burton's work has been pretty much hit or miss. He has made fantastic films like Sweeney Todd but also churned out soulless stinkers like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Every time you thought he had lost his touch though he would release another brilliant movie like Frankenweenie, proving he still has stories that are more than worth telling. So when I first heard of him adapting Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children, a story that lends itself perfectly to his visual and structural style, I was totally sold that he was the guy to bring this all to life. 

Based on the book of the same name written by Ranson Riggs, the movie focuses on a teenage boy named Jake (Asa Butterfield) who has just witnessed the horrific death of his beloved grandfather Abe (Terence Stamp). His grandfather's last wish was that Jake goes to a secluded island in Wales to try and find the children's home Abe grew up in, run by the auspicious Miss Peregrine (Eva Green). When Jake finds the home and the people living within it, he comes to realize all of the crazy stories his grandpa told him as a child were all true and that these people with peculiar abilities are as real as he. It doesn't take Jake long to find that he is special as well, and when a malicious group of people threatens their existence it is his duty to help keep them safe. 

Though the film has its flaws, this is easily the best live-action Burton film since Sweeney Todd and a welcome return to form for the master visual storyteller. Within this story, he is able to show off his visual skills in a variety of ways, many of wich are much more conservative than his previous efforts. It may have something to do with the fact that Johnny Depp in ten pounds of make-up is nowhere to be found, but for the first time in the better part of a decade, Burton balances visuals and plot with an even hand.  

Yes, the story allows for his style to run wild, but it also constrains him from taking it too far and sacrificing the characters and plot in the name of pretty images. He was sure to stay true to the source material and keep the character arcs and plot points intact. By the end of the movie, I am actually able to care about Jake and Emma's (Ella Purnell) relationship and what the future has in store for them. Also, Eva Green is a force of nature on screen and from the moment she first appears in the movie she completely owns every scene she is in. Seriously, get this woman in more things now.   

That isn't to say he nails it all, with a huge group of unique characters to introduce some get left to the wayside. By the end of the movie we understand the special abilities of every kid in the home but that's about it. We don't get much more than surface level stuff outside of the main three or four characters, and that's fine. This is technically another YA adaptation and the main relationship is what matters the most, and he manages to get that right. 

The film also lacks a true and menacing villain to further the story along. Samuel L. Jackson plays the big baddie Barron and although he's fun in his moments, there isn't much to his character at all. Barron and his band of cronies basically serve as a simple force to move Jake's story along and push him closer to his fate. At least these guys are accompanied by some pretty terrifying monsters that are the catalyst for the big final action sequence. 

When it comes down to it this film is purely entertainment and not much more. The story clearly has some undertones and social issues to speak on but they are mostly lost in the big budget, big studio model. A lot of subtexts are sacrificed in the name of gorgeous visuals and bonkers action scenes, which in the end work because the scenes are so much fun to watch. If they want to make another two or three movies in this world then I am more than happy to watch them. This is a must-see for Burton fans and to anyone else just looking for two hours of good fun at the theater, this will serve you quite well. 

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!

Whatever, Found-Footage Doesn't Like You Either

Whatever, Found-Footage Doesn't Like You Either:

A Defense of Films Most Unpopular Sub-Genre

This past weekend brought with it the release of the surprise sequel to 1999's The Blair Witch Project, the film that kick started this whole "found-footage" subgenre. The new movie, simply titled Blair Witch, was not only met with poor critical reception but also found itself with a slightly disappointing opening weekend, with a box office of just $9.6 million (the movie cost $5 million, so in retrospect it's not so bad). So we all know what that means right? That means it's time for all the haters to come out of the woodwork to tell everyone how much they hate found-footage and how big of a mistake this new movie was. Only it wasn't a mistake, the movie is phenomenally made and a literal thrill ride in a movie theater. So why all the hate? What is it about this subgenre that the bad overshadows all of the truly fantastic films to come out of this? 

I'm not sure I'll be able to answer 'why' these people are so vile towards this kind of filmmaking but I can at least explain why this kind of attitude is completely unwarranted. If you are someone who gets motion sickness watching shaky cam then this article is not speaking directly towards you, I cannot blame someone for physically not being able to sit through these movies. I am addressing the fans, mostly in the horror community, who enjoy this genre at its best but cry for its death whenever a new film releases. 

The world of film is filled with all different kinds of genres and subgenres, some more popular and profitable than others but there is no denying one thing; In any genre of film there are far more bad films than great. This is a general rule with film, there is so much more bad than good out there that we have to be able to cherish it all for what it is. My point? Movie nerds never cry for the death of rom-coms or westerns whenever we get a bad one. So why does it have to be the end of found-footage every time a lackluster film is released?

A large part of this attitude, I believe, comes from the fact that this sub genre hasn't been around nearly as long as others. The pool from which to pick these kinds of movies is only a fraction of the size of most others that have been around almost as long as film itself. This means it is much easier for a fan to claim the amount of good here is far outweighed by the bad, but I strongly disagree. Since just 1999 we have seen a number of truly great films come out of this 'trend' that most moviegoers, including those who bash the genre constantly, would admit to thoroughly enjoying.

Take, for example, 2008's surprise hit Cloverfield which took this style of filmmaking and brought it into the big budget world. I remember when this movie came out, it was a huge deal among most young moviegoers and the secrecy around it make it a small cultural phenomenon. Still to this day I find far more film geeks who love this film than who don't, and for good reason. It was a huge movie made on a tiny scale that allowed us to feel like we were all really there in the city with them. 

That is a massive component to what makes these films, when done properly, so damn entertaining. Found-footage movies are meant to be an experience, one that feels more real than any other kind of filmmaking. This is what made The Blair Witch Project the most successful film of all-time and I believe it's a large part of what a lot of moviegoers fail to grasp with these stories. In order to get the full enjoyment and experience you need to allow yourself to exist in the world you are seeing and believe what is happening to be true. I'm not saying you have to leave the theater thinking you just watched a documentary, but a small suspension of disbelief can go along way.

There is even more to it than that though, and I believe the other major issue plaguing these movies is one that is effecting the film world as a whole right now. Most moviegoers judge the entirety of the movie universe on what they see in theaters. Now, fifteen years ago this would have been totally justifiable but with the rise of streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, as well as video on demand (VOD) platforms some of the best movies being made these days are seen on your home television. 

If you head over to Netflix right now and browse through the horror section you will find a handful of solid found-footage movies. Take for example 2015's Creep, from filmmaker Patrick Brice and starring the wonderful Mark Duplass. The flick is as simple as can be, made with one camera and two people they get more story and scares packed into 80 minutes than most straight forward horror films these days. Or, if you are like me and get unreasonably creeped out by the elderly then you shouldn't hesitate in popping on The Taking of Deborah Logan. This would-be documentary about alzheimer's quickly turns into truly unnerving piece of paranormal horror. 

Also, and I cannot say this enough, never be afraid to check out what's being made in other countries. Foreign cinema is where some of the most creative and fresh voices in filmmaking are and the found-footage genre is no different. Go seek out the incredible Spanish horror franchise [REC], the first two movies in the franchise deal out some of the best scares in modern horror, period. You could also pop on Netflix and see one of my favorite movies of all-time (no joke) Troll Hunter. This brilliant norwegian film will dish out a few nifty scares but more than anything else it's an absolute blast to watch. Boasting incredible special effects and a wonderfully charming story this could easily be the film to sway your judgment on the medium. 

I could go on listing the many other found-footage movies that I think are brilliant, but the haters will just retort with the ones that aren't, like The Gallows or Apollo 18. So I guess what I have to say to all of you is that you should take a step, look at the films you love and decide if you really think this kind of storytelling needs to go away. After seeing Blair Witch this past weekend, and with the satirical horror flick Found-Footage 3D coming out at some point in the near future, I am excited about seeing where else this genre can be taken.  

If nothing else, come away from this with the understanding that the found-footage genre is no different than any other form of filmmaking. The bad will always outweigh the good and if we can't truly appreciate the good because of that then why even bother in the first place? There were three bad superhero movies this year but there's no rallying cry for the death of superhero blockbusters that cost $200 million to make. Why then, should a style of filmmaking that is traditionally profitable and that cost so little to make be ostracized for its failures?

The chances of swaying even a fraction of you to my side is pretty much impossible, but at the very least I hope I have convinced even a handful of you to give these kinds of movies another shot. I especially hope to convince some of you to go and give Blair Witch a shot in theaters if you haven't already. It is a wonderfully crafted horror experience and too many are writing it off simply because of the style in which it was made. If this is the hill on which I choose to die than so be it, At least it's defending a bunch of films I really love.

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!

MOVIE REVIEW: I Am Not a Serial Killer

I Am Not a Serial Killer (2016)

Horror, Thriller, Sci-Fi

Directed By: Billy O'Brien

With horror currently owning the box office, the age old debate has once again been brought to the surface of whether or not horror is still thriving. Spoiler: it is, and it has been for years now- you just have to know where to look. While Don't Breathe is sitting at number one at the box office it feels like a good time to remind fans that great horror can be found at anytime streaming on VOD outlets. For example, you can currently go and stream the new horror thriller I Am Not a Serial Killer while it is still playing in a limited theatrical run. I did so and in turn was treated to a weird, original new story told from a point of view we don't get to experience too often. 

John Wayne Cleaver (Max Records) has been recently diagnosed as a sociopath by his therapist, and despite the titles negative connotations, he has owned his new identity. He knows he has issues and that if the perfect sequence of events were to happen he would probably end up killing someone. He doesn't want to hurt anybody, though, in fact, the idea couldn't be less appealing to John, but he knows the potential is there. He follows a strict set of rules to keep himself from getting to that point but when a serial killer pops up in his remote little town his entire world is turned upside down. It's made even worse when he makes a strange discovery about the person performing these heinous acts and he now feels an obligation to do something about it. 

Seeing this story unfold from the point of view of John, a diagnosed sociopath, is what makes this movie so enjoyable to watch. We are seeing an original take on a classic small town murder mystery, told through eyes we rarely get to view anything from. Watching John handle his condition is fascinating enough to carry its own movie and learning how he has crafted his own set of rules, and how each of those rules keeps his bad habits at bay is a just one of many clever angles this movie operates on. 

Take that premise and use it as a baseline to tell a murder mystery and it gives us a take with are unfamiliar with. John's vast knowledge of serial killers and how they work allow him to catch onto the trail of his town's new infamous celebrity fairly easily and what he finds is totally unexpected. You may think you have the movie figured out in the first act but when the twists start coming and the film takes a slight sci-fi turn the outcome of the movie becomes rather unpredictable. 

Despite its cool and original premise, I Am Not a Serial Killer is not without its flaws. Watching John navigate his mental state is fascinating at times and pretty much everything dealing with the killer itself is totally engaging, but the filler in between can be quite clunky. There were a handful of moments where I began to lose interest in what was happening in the scene, or what I was watching didn't play directly into the story and slightly lost my interest. They do their best to create the strange relationship between John and his mother, who is aware of his diagnosis, but it often times comes off as a passing thought. 

The film succeeds with a clever premise and great performances from its leads. Max Records owns his role as the sociopathic John Wayne Cleaver, his unsettling demeanor and way of carrying himself creates the eerie atmosphere that most of the story operates on. The real treat though is Christopher Lloyd, who plays John's creepy old neighbor Crowley. Lloyd turns in one of the best performances we have seen from him ages and it adds a gravitas you wouldn't expect from a flick like this.

This is exactly the type of movie that totally justifies the changing landscape of releasing horror films. Though this is a clever new horror thriller it isn't a movie you necessarily need to see on a big screen. Yes, every movie is enhanced by being seen in a theater but this is also the perfect kind of horror movie to just pop on a Sunday afternoon and be surprised by. It offers us a new point of view in which to view a horror story from, and for that alone, it is worth the price of a rental. 

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!

MOVIE REVIEW: The Mind's Eye

The Mind's Eye (2016)

Horror, Sci-Fi

Directed By: Joe Begos

If you are the horror fan who believes the genre is dead or dying because you've only seen the latest studio flick doing its best to mimic the latest trend then I suggest diving into the world of indie horror. Rather than mimic what's popular many of these filmmakers are taking influence from the masters of the genre and finding ways to create their own unique stories. Take, for example, the latest film from writer/director Joe Begos The Mind's Eye which plays as a giant love letter to the Scanners franchise and other films and filmmakers of its time. This could have easily been a cheap knock-off of movies people love but Begos took the influence and injected it right into the heart of a story that stands entirely on its own.

The film focuses on two people with extraordinary abilities, Zack Connors (Graham Skipper) and Rachel Meadows (Lauren Ashley Carter). Unbeknownst to most of the world, these two belong to a small portion of the population with telekinetic capabilities. When a sadistic doctor by the name of Michael Slovak (John Speredakos) finds out about their special talents he abducts them in hopes of harvesting their abilities for himself. The two manage to escape his facilities and now the crazed doctor will do whatever it takes to get them back. What he doesn't know is that the powers he has been suppressing in them are slowly coming back, and a man with a gun may not be able to do much when the person they are pointing it at can control their brain.

We are hardly seeing an acting clinic on display here but we still gets solid performances from both of the leads Graham Skipper and Lauren Ashley Carter. Doctor Slovak however, played by John Speredakos, literally descends into madness by the end of the film and the performance by Speredakos is so much damn fun. Watching him and Skipper go back in forth in the finale is real treat. I also have to mention horror community favorite Larry Fessenden also has a small role in the movie and we all know anytime he pops up it usually means you're watching a pretty good flick.

When it comes to sci-fi horror one of the keys to success is making sure the sci-fi aspect of the film isn't buried. Nothing is more disappointing than going into a film with promise of something like aliens or telekinesis and have them be an afterthought. Begos gets this, his low budgets haven't stopped him from interjecting tons of interesting science fiction elements into his horror movies. He also doesn't beat you over the head with exposition to make sure the audience is picking up on it either, he stages these moments in a way where we are able to pick up and understand exactly what's going on. We easily understand these characters powers and the extents to which they can use them without having to be told directly why. 

This isn't to say the film shies away from being a full on horror movie, telekinesis can be used in some pretty terrifying ways and we see more than a few of them on display throughout. Unlike Scanners though, a film this one is drawing huge influence from, they aren't just exploding heads all willy nilly the entire time, it's not so easy for this world's telekinetics. The Mind's Eye builds off of what that movie introduced and rather than try to imitate it turns it into something new. Instead of just exploding brains (which I'm not saying isn't in the movie) they can use their powers in a multitude of different ways, like wielding weapons or tossing bodies across a room in a ultra-violent fashion. If you are the fan that goes for unique kills and buckets of blood this movie is entirely for you. 

The story draws influence from all over the board, not just horror. the opening scene of film is it's own version of The First Blood intro. A drifter wanders down an empty road only to be stopped by police and thrown into the hellish situation that is to follow. You can tell Begos just wanted to make a movie with the feel of all of his favorites from the late seventies and eighties while shaping it into his own vision with some modern tendencies. He's not trying to pull on nostalgia as much as create a familiar atmosphere in which he can show us something new, and he succeeds at doing so. 

At the beginning of the movie a title card pops up that prompts the viewer to "watch this movie as loud as possible" and though they may seem like a cheap gimmick to some it's actually a perfect piece of advice. The sound design and score are incredible and it is only enhanced when you crank the volume to eleven. The film boasts a wonderful, old school synth dominant score that plays a key role in creating that familiar atmosphere for the viewer. Add that to the impressive and creepy sound design surrounding the telekinetics and violence, and you have a truly unique experience.

The Mind's Eye isn't the type of film that plays gangbusters to any type of crowd, but for the right audience (which I am a part of) this movie plays as a totally insane rollercoaster ride through hell that we never want to get off of. Begos is making the kinds of films we love and cherish as "cult classics" from the past, only in modern times. I have a good feeling with time each of his films will have a growing audience of dedicated fans. This is easily one of my favorite horror films of the year and I cannot wait to see what he has in store for us horror geeks next. 

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!

How Neighbors Brought the College Comedy Into the 21st Century

Thank Neighbors for Saving the "Frat House" Comedy

The Frat house has been the setting of countless "college comedies" ever since National Lampoon's Animal House became a hit back in 1978. It's easy to see why as this is the perfect breeding ground for immaturity and irresponsibility, two of the key components of any slapstick comedy. Unfortunately for many of these movies, despite how well regarded they are and how well much of the comedy still lands, they are a product of their time. What I mean by this is that many of the films made before the turn of the century tend to be misogynistic in nature and feature some ideas that aren't up to our current societal standards.

Take Animal House for example, hailed by many as one of the greatest comedies of all-time, features a scene of a college freshman debating whether or not to have sex with a passed out party girl who we later find out is only thirteen (!) and The Mayor's daughter. Now, as we all know in the film he makes the respectable choice and sends her home (albeit in a shopping cart) but the movie makes the scenario feel like it's no big deal and the devil on his shoulder declares him a "Homo" when he makes that decision. 

Maybe that joke would be able to slide between the cracks today, as he doesn't actually make the wrong choice but let's examine another "classic college comedy" by the name of Revenge of the Nerds. Though the movie centers itself on the basic story of a group of college nerds trying to get back at the "jocks" and frat boys it basically ends up as a story about these guys trying to get laid. Spoiler alert: The main character ends up doing just that and in one of the most disgusting ways you could think of. Our would be "Hero" literally date rapes a girl at the end of the film by tricking her into thinking he is someone else while they are fooling around in the dark. Oh and this is our character's major triumph at the end of the film, he is to be applauded for this action.

I don't mention these in attempt discredit those films, they are very much a product of their time and should be viewed through that lens. Animal House still stands as one of the best comedies of all-time for me and rightly so, but if it were made today maybe that particular scene gets cut. The problem is when these old fashioned ways of thinking make it into our modern attempts at these movies. Films that are universally loved like Old School and Van Wilder find themselves at times falling prey to the misogyny and sexism of those that came before them.