The Gorge is a new film from director Scott Derrickson & writer Zach Dean. Viewers might be familiar with Derrickson’s work on horror films such as Sinister & The Black Phone, while viewers might be familiar with Dean’s work on films such as The Tomorrow War & Fast X. The film stars Miles Teller, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Sigourney Weaver. When two highly-trained operatives are appointed to posts in guard towards opposite side of a secretive gorge, they must work together to keep the secret in the gorge.
The concept around this film was intriguing, but I can’t say I was looking forward to it. I love the cast and I especially love Derrickson’s works. When I saw that I had the opportunity to see it early, I knew I had to see it ASAP. To be honest, I also kind of needed to see it due to the hectic week that I am having. I completely understand why Apple TV+ is releasing this on the streamer over a theater rollout. The film isn’t perfect, but this would have been so much fun to see in the theater.
The first act, which accounts for about the first hour of the film is strictly dedicated to developing the two main characters played by Miles Teller & Anya Taylor-Joy. These two have amazing chemistry together. It’s such an intriguing concept to have them separated for so long, but still see each other. That’s what makes their encounter where they truly meet each other so special. I believe some viewers may be turned away by how long this takes. Like I said, it takes about an hour to get through this. I suppose it’s fitting for the Valentine’s Day weekend that may appeal to a larger audience.
After the first act is when the film kicks into high great. There’s also a lot of intrigue and buildup to the second act that makes it all pay off. I honestly thought the film actually took place in the apocalypse. Instead, the second act feels like the apocalypse where you spend time in this new world for 45 minutes that goes on longer than what it feels like. The second act is a lot of fun. When you are familiar with Derrickson’s work, he’s able to effectively display the horror genre to this. He does a great job at blending the genres, but its during the second act is where the film shines the most. The creatures are mainly CGI, but Derrickson does a great job making them look life-like with the movie’s stars.
Then, there’s the third act that feels like it goes on longer than it needs to. It tries its best to tie itself up properly without the need of a sequel. I personally don’t think it was all necessary, especially when the film feels like it already ends at the end of the second act. It’s like “oh, we’re still going. Got it.” Look, it’s still a lot of fun that somewhat makes up for paying for the subscription service.
Those are my collected thoughts on each act, but there are both pros and cons throughout the film. The exposition and character development can be a bit awkward at times. The green screen is just about as good as what you would think for a streaming movie. The collection of different genres, while fun, can be exhausting by the end.
If you were to ask me to rewatch it, I probably would. Teller & Taylor-Joy carry the film. It’s fitting to have these characters be these two highly-trained operatives. The film has more than enough buildup that makes you care about what happens to them when things go south. The mystery is done incredibly well. This is the kind of movie you need to go 100% blind into. I can see this easily be a big hit for the streamer that may just put confidence in them again to start putting their movies back in theaters.
I am not joking when I say the music reminded me so much of Nine Inch Nails I couldn’t believe I was right when I saw that Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross composed the soundtrack. How do these guys do it? They consistently make energetic soundtracks that are fitting for the tone. They do it so much that I wouldn’t be surprised if they were doing it in their sleep.
Overall, The Gorge was a surprisingly good time even with its flaws. I loved the main duo between their amazing chemistry and dedication to the action. The film does have a little bit of everything that I think will appeal to a larger audience, but I’d be interested to see if everyone will like that. The way the film plays out will keep viewers at least inrigued by what could happen next.
On this week’s episode of Max’s The Pitt, so much more occurs here than ever before. It may just be the best episode yet. I think I am getting used to the shorter runtimes now, because they are truly making every minute count to feel longer. Let’s unpack the episode.
As per usual, the episode takes off where last week’s episode ended. I can’t say last week’s episode on the most intense note. At least not as intense as I think the show was trying to do, but when it takes off from the get-go, it does not stop.
The episode continues some plotlines that have been going on for a while. In particular, we get the parents of the son in the coma coming to terms with what’s going on. I still really enjoy this arc, but I can’t say it’s my favorite of the bunch. It’s nice to have this overarching narrative where Dr. Robby has to continuously change his demeanor towards the grieving parents.
On top of that, Dr. Collins is still trying to deal with the mother who doesn’t want her daughter to have an abortion. As we come to learn, the mother doesn’t want her to have an abortion as she had her daughter around the same age as her. She claims she’s the best thing that has ever happened to her even though it was rough at first. Dr. Collins finds a way to get through to her to help the family not be torn apart. Dr. Collins is really coming around to be one of my favorite characters. Based on where she ends in this episode, I can’t imagine what she has to go through for the remainder of this season.
With a plotline that started in the first episode, we see more of the woman who couldn’t speak English that got pushed in front of a train. The guy that saves her has an outstanding moment where he says he will help the police identify the person who pushed the lady. It’s a nice & sweet moment that shows that humanity will still care about others no matter what they are going through.
One of my favorite segments of this show is when it cuts back to Dr. Robby having flashbacks during COVID. We learn so much about him that makes us feel for the character. At one point, Dr. Collins claims he’s upset, because of the day being the anniversary of his mentor’s death. In reality, he still has PTSD from what he did, which makes his journey so isolating when he’s trying to take care of so many other people.
We learn more about Dr. King. I feel really bad for her. She clearly likes Dr. Langdon who seems to just be taking advantage of her. It’s clear she wants to be with him, but I don’t feel like he feels the same way. For anyone who hasn’t liked Dr. Santos, you’d think she’d learn her lesson from the last episode. Fairly quickly, she’s going back to her old self. There is a plot that gets her character involved leading towards one of the most satisfying moments of the show. If you haven’t liked her yet, you will love her after this episode. What she does is brave and goes to show what she has gone through in her past.
There are some other plotlines that come in that continue to make the show feel more intense. You can tell where everyone is exhausted. I can’t imagine how they are going to feel by the end. An older gentleman comes in with a heart attack. A girl with schizophrenia comes in and it actually gives Javadi some solid development. The rest of the side characters continue to find their place within the story that I believe will continue to have bigger moments going forward.
Overall, episode 7 has to be the best episode of The Pitt yet with some shocking and satisfying storylines. This is a perfect episode in my eyes where the 45-minute runtime is starting to feel like an hour. This is truly one of the best shows out there right now.
Directed by Josh Ruben & written by Phillip Murphy, Christopher Landon, and Michael Kennedy, Heart Eyes follows a masked maniac with glowing, red, heart eyes who returns every Valentine’s Day to terrorize unsuspecting couples. The film stars Olivia Holt, Mason Gooding, Gigi Zumbado, Michaela Watkins, Devon Sawa, and Jordana Brewster.
I can’t say I was looking forward to a slasher anytime soon. I enjoyed them a lot more when I was a teenager, but in recent years, I have found them to be too bleak for my taste. To my surprise, this one was fun from start to finish. Due to how light-hearted and comedic it can be, I am not surprised to see where this isn’t for everyone. Coming from writer Christopher Landon as a writer, I am also not surprised by its tone. The film’s tone is what works best for the film.
Olivia Holt & Mason Gooding star in the lead roles, and I have not seen such strong chemistry between two leads in quite a while. They are so likable & charming. The casting department did a superb job putting these two together. Under Josh Ruben’s direction, he creates a foundation between the two before chaos ensues. That’s what helps us feel even more gravitated towards what happens to them. There’s a surprising amount of development between the two that may not be for anyone who wants straight up slasher, but to me, it helps it stand out amongst the rest of the slasher movies. I know what I said about slasher movies being bleak, and I did not feel this way at all.
It was refreshing to see Jordana Brewster & Devon Sawa here. Viewers might be most familiar with the two from Fast & Furious and Final Destination, respectfully. It’s nice to see Brewster have a big role outside of the popular franchise, and it’s nice to see Sawa in another horror movie. The Fast & Furious reference was also hilarious. I had that spoiled to me beforehand unfortunately, and I wish that wasn’t the case. This is the kind of movie that you need to go blind into.
As for the big twist, it’s unique, but it’s also somewhat predictable. When you go into a slasher movie wondering who the big killer is, you’re looking at everyone as a suspect. The film makes it clear with some big hints as to who it can be, but it also makes you second guess yourself, similar to how My Bloody Valentine did. It leads into a cliche third act where the villain speaks their motives before following through with their plan. I am tired of that trope where the villain has to explain everything, which gives the heroes plenty of time to overcome the villain. On the other hand, I thought it was quite fun. It felt like a homage to a lot of other 90’s slashers.
Speaking of homage, this is a film that respectfully homages other great slashers before it. There is a shot similar to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre that you may have seen in the trailer. One of the main reasons I try to avoid trailers as they spoil too much. On the other hand, I guess it’s a good way to convince people to see this. There’s also another scenes where the Heart Eyes killer is chasing Olivia Holt’s character, and the music choice reminded me a lot of Psycho. The film also acknowledges other romantic movies which can make it even more comedic and light-hearted.
There is a convenient plot hole that I know I am reading too much into. Without giving much away, the start of the film makes it clear that the killer has attacked other parts of the country. As it so happens, the same killer has attacked places that Mason Gooding has been to. First off, I have no idea how the killer made that work to set Gooding up. Second, you’d think Gooding’s character would not want to be romantically involved because of this. I honestly thought at one point it might be someone Gooding has a connection with, but that’s not the case. In the end, I think the film does a good job at explaining the motives, even if I would have liked to have seen the conception of this killer explored more.
From what I have seen, this film hasn’t been doing quite well. That seems to always be the case for any movie opening Super Bowl weekend. Maybe it will do better over Valentine’s Day weekend. If it does, I’d love to see a sequel of this that further explores the origins of the killer in other parts of the country. If not, I like how the film ends with something conclusive.
Overall, Heart Eyes exceeded my expectations to deliver something fun & unique with two charismatic leads and respectful homages to the genres. The tone may not be for everyone, but for someone who needs that, I can appreciate it even more. It’s far funnier than I could have ever imagined. I won’t be upset if a sequel ever happens, but I’m also satisfied with what we got here.
Companion is a 2025 horror comedy starring Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén, and Rupert Friend. It’s crazy how there are two official synopses for the film. I am going to give you the better one. A billionaire’s death sets off a chain of events for a group of friends during a weekend trip to his lakeside estate. Boom! There you go. That’s exactly how mysterious the movie should have been promoted. While there are surprises, this is also a great example as to the marketing revealing too much. Similar to producer Zach Cregger’s latest film, Barbarian, this is a film best going into completely blind.
I’ve seen where this has been at the top of a lot of people’s most anticipated lists of the year. That’s crazy when we are only in January. With an IMAX run, it went to show how much promise there was in the film. I can’t say the IMAX screen enhanced the viewing experience, but the idea of such premium format helps heighten the importance of seeing the film. Given the surprises and the qualities this film holds, this feels like an event worth seeing in the theater.
Actress Sophie Thatcher has been absolutely crushing it since her theatrical debut in 2018’s Prospect when she starred opposite Pedro Pascal. Since then, she has been more recognizable in works such as The Boogeyman, MaXXXine, Heretic, and Yellowjackets. She has a likable presence that reminds me a lot of Anya Taylor-Joy just in their tone and their mannerisms. Thatcher puts on an acting class in her performance here. Considering this had more spoiled in the promos that what it deserved, I am going to treat this as though it hasn’t been spoiled. When we get to the reveal of who Thatcher’s character really is, you begin to realize just how locked in she is. There are moments that require her to consistently change her language and actions that is truly unbelievable to witness. Just one of the several instances where my jaw was on the floor.
My jaw was also on the floor with the amount of twists and turns that occur. The first act of the film does feel choppy with characters acting and talking in an unrealistic fashion. At first, it felt like the direction didn’t know how to create a realistic setting. When the main reveal occurs, you begin to see things differently. When the real nature of who these people are revealed, my jaw was once again on the floor. I don’t think I audibly gasped like that since Parasite.
By the time, we get to the middle portion of the film, everything is at a 10/10. The cinematography invites you into the isolation of the situation. The editing helps give each character the proper amount of screentime. The sound design transitions in and out perfectly. The visuals and makeup are also outstanding. Everything looks great. It’s clear this idea was born out of the pandemic, and what a more fitting way to do that by integrating themes that are relevant to today.
As much as this is Thatcher’s film, the film also spends a considerable amount of screentime with each character. Quaid has a meaningful character arc that tackles the nice guy trope. Lukas Gage is an easy standout. Between his work here and in Smile 2, the guy is going places. It’s also great to see Harvey Guillén getting such a strong role outside of television. Give him more roles! Megan Suri, a name I was not familiar with, does some great work. As for Rupert Friend, he effectively makes use of his time by creating a memorable character.
What’s so great about the storyline with these side characters is that it makes you rustle with their ideology. At first, I questioned why they could like each other given what we found out about these characters. Then, it becomes fitting, but it also makes you question who the real villain is. Anxiety will make you do crazy things. When more and more is revealed, you realize how easy it can be gaslit. This is a great film that helps you realize to always trust your gut.
The third act leans into some cliche, predictable plot points. It’s clear the film lingers on longer than it needs to. The situation just sort of drags. Character’s stories abruptly stop, the villain talks way too much about his plan before following through on his plan, and it’s clear the film is going to give you a happy ending. I loved how the film followed through on its themes where it made me say “good for her.” It just didn’t need to take the cliche route. For a film that was mostly unpredictable, I do wish the third act continued being unpredictable until the very end.
Overall, Companion is the first great movie that I think will satisfy nearly everyone. It is best seen in theaters, knowing as little as possible. Sophie Thatcher is a star in the making with a performance that will show why she deserves more roles. The film also has an impressive supporting cast that are so good at being unlikable. The film has many technical achievements that enhance the viewing experience. Definietely a movie you need to see as soon as possible.
Dog Man is a new 2025 animated superhero comedy film based on Dan Pilkey’s children’s graphic novel series from the same name. It serves as a spin-off and and story within a story of 2017’s Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie. The film has an ensemble cast that includes Pete Davidson, Lil Rel Howery, Isla Fisher, Poppy Liu, Stephen Root, Billy Boyd, and Ricky Gervais. This is not only Universal’s second movie to come out this year, but it’s also the second one to have “Man” in the title. What’s more ironic is that I am giving them both the same score.
I can’t say I was looking forward to this at all. I knew nothing about it and nothing about interested me. I even had an invite to go see this early at a press screening, but tapped out the night before because of how tired I am. I felt like it wasn’t worth it. That says a lot when I saw every Universal movie that I have been invited to for the last year. I even saw Migration, which happened to be the movie that put me on the map for Universal’s screener list, so I am eternally grateful. This… was just not it. I am glad I didn’t sacrifice my sleep to see this.
With a 72% on Rotten Tomatoes and hearing the laughs surround me in the theater, I know this is going to be a hit. The film has a $40 million price tag attached to it, and I am already seeing where the film will make $30 million in its opening weekend. That’s great! Even if movies are not for me, I am glad that there are movies that help keep the theater business thriving. In recent years, it makes sense for studios to capitalize on family friendly movies as they almost never fail.
What I did like about the film is how it wears its heart on its sleeve through its humor and themes. The humor has a sarcastic tone that reminded me of DreamWorks’ original works with some strong scenes that stood out. I didn’t quite understand the sarcastic tone as it almost felt out of place, but there are some standout moments that did make me chuckle. The film even manages to have some meaningful character arcs with Petey (voiced by Pete Davison), having the strongest one that will connect with families.
Maybe I saw it in the wrong format, but I felt like my head went through blender after I saw it in Dolby. I know someone else who also watched it and enjoyed it in the same format. I think I am just more easily overstimulated. I don’t need loud noises and the plot changing every 5 minutes to be entertained. As someone who was not familiar with this property at all, I didn’t see the point in it at all. This was supposed to be a Captain Underpants spin-off, but you’d never know it. Considering it’s been 8 years since that movie, it’s hard to believe why no one thought it would be a good idea to have a connection to something that is far more popular.
The origin of how Dog Man becomes the titular character is not only dark, but it doesn’t make any sense. What we know about these characters before they have to become the same person is simply bizarre. So, they both died and became the same person? I know it’s a kid’s movie, but what a strange concept. They literally tie on the head of a dog of a human, but also give the character dog arms. This sounds like a concept better suited for a Tim Burton stop-motion picture. Once again, I am not familiar with the material its based off. Instead, it would have been better if there was no origin and we just saw this character as it was to begin with. Petey is already a cat. Why couldn’t we get the same thing with a dog? At least the dog could have a voice.
Since the film resolves around a character that mainly makes dog noises, it’s harder to relate to the character. Due to this, the film has Pete Davidson & Lil Rey Howery talking a LOT. I don’t mind Davidson and I really like Howery. It’s within the script and the direction that makes them be consistently loud and obnoxious for little to no reason. Sitting right next to a speaker throughout with everyone consistently yelling was not enjoyable.
The film also has multiple storylines going on at the same time. It feels like it’s changing every few minutes that it made me forget what happened moments earlier. Instead of trying to be exciting, it comes off boring and lifeless. I will say I like the animation, especially when it mimics its comic book style. When the plot changes every so often, why should I care though? I don’t even think the kid version of me would have enjoyed this.
I am not meaning to sound harsh. This is a film that has substantial potential. I love this type of humor. It reminds me of DreamWorks and Illumination’s earlier works. Similar to Despicable Me 4, I don’t need the plot to consistently change throughout. It feels like I got whiplash. It’s the equivalent of doom scrolling on TikTok. I think the film could have been better had it slow down in its pacing. The film is moving so quickly. By the time it gets to its third act, it stretches out for about 30 minutes to meet a reasonable runtime.
Overall, Dog Man will win over families and fans of the material, but this one is not for me. I don’t think I could recommend this to anyone who is neither familiar with the material nor anyone who doesn’t like genre. For me, there was plenty of missed potential that could have been better capitalized had it slow down the pacing and give the film more of a purpose. I don’t need to be overstimulated to be entertained. Maybe watching this in a quieter setting would make me appreciate it more.
Picking up right from the last episode, the doctors begin treating the same guy who started spazzing out in the last episode. The situation is resolved pretty quickly within the episode’s opening minutes. Shortly after, more madness ensues. It’s astonishing how much is packed into this episode. This is most stressful episode yet, but also a heartfelt one where we learn more about the characters.
Much like the previous episodes, you are still seeing a large portion of what’s going on from Robby’s perspective. You have your moments with the side characters where Robby will pop in here and there. As someone who likes to keep themselves busy and like to help people, this episode actually made me question why I didn’t go into this field. This show just gives you a transparent view of this world. Just when you think someone isn’t going to make it, they end up pulling through, because these are trained professionals. I can’t even begin to understand how Robby can juggle so many cases at the same time. He can just flip like a switch.
We get more of Whitaker in this episode, who I believe will go down as a fan favorite by the end of the season if he isn’t already. In the prior episodes, we’ve seen him have to switch his clothes on multiple occasions. He doesn’t do it once, but twice in this episode. The guy isn’t safe from anyone. It’s admirable how he still keeps on going even when he doubts himself. There are people who believe in him. I think many people will see themselves in this character.
We finally get McKay’s backstory! She has been quiet around Javadi, who she knows has been lowkey judging her. McKay ends up confiding in another patient around the same age as her. We learn a lot more about McKay through this dialogue, which is one of the best conversations I have seen so far in the show. Fiona Dourif’s performance as McKay is outstanding. She manages to find this balance between being a doctor and being a person. When Javadi comes in and messes up the moment, McKay doesn’t even yell at her. She is honest about why she did was not okay in the hopes to make Javadi better at her job. It’s such a heartbreaking storyline that I deeply connected with.
Coming from the last episode is a storyline involving a teenager who is seeking an abortion. The story really goes to show how much the doctors care about her situation. This storyline actually ends the episode on a clever cliffhanger that worked better than last week’s. Without getting into any spoilers, I do wish it went a step further. If it went that extra step, my jaw would have been on the floor. You’ll know what I mean when you see it.
The patient from a few episodes ago who came in with sickle cell finally gets the treatment she needs, but it ends an interesting story with Dr. Mohan. She’s really focused on developing a relationship with patients instead of helping them at times. She talks to this patient and her wife like everything is okay. Just as Robby checks in, she immediately changes her tone with what’s going on. She tells Robby how bad she really is, forcing Robby to be real with all of them. Why didn’t she do that before? She ends up helping the patient though. I get the sentiment of developing relationships with patients to make them feel more comfortable, but there needs to be a line. I am really intrigued as to what’s going to happen next for Dr. Mohan.
As for other things, the guy with chest pain from the first episode is still trying to get treatment. A stolen ambulance is still on the run, forcing some employees to bet on it. A kid comes in puking blood. An older lady gets treatment for a dislocated shoulder with some of the best one-liners. I really like that character. This is just an all around terrific episode with so much to add. The events that are happening isn’t just happening to keep us on our toes. It’s happening to paint a realistic picture of what this life looks like.
I have two small issues with the episode. For how quickly the opening scene is resolved, the show didn’t need to end there on a cliffhanger. Ending it there last week amounted to nothing as it was not one of the show’s main focuses. Also, the episode clocks in at about 46 minutes. For a show that capitalizes on the hour format, I really want to be in this show in real time. I understand you probably aren’t thinking about it, but when you know how short it is, it does take me out of the illusion that I am right there with these doctors.
Overall, another impressive episode. I was looking away at times, because I couldn’t bare the thought of someone getting hurt again or worse. You just never know what’s going to happen in this show. This episode also manages to fill in the gaps with who these characters are. We’ve got 10 episodes left! I can’t wait to see what happens next. Please, let there be enough people who watch this to warrant a second season.
The Pitt is a new medical drama created by R. Scott Gemmill, which premiered on Max on January 9, 2025, with its first two episodes. The series unfolds over the course of a single 15-hour emergency department shift at a fictional hospital in Pittsburgh, with each episode covering one hour of the shift. The story is led by Dr. Michael “Robby” Rabinavitch, a seasoned senior doctor portrayed by Noah Wyle.
As of this publication, four episodes have aired. After becoming a huge fan of the first few episodes, I reached out to Warner Brothers, and they kindly granted me early access to each episode—up to two days ahead of their official release. I’ll be posting my reviews every Wednesday night at 9 p.m. EST, a full 24 hours before each episode premieres on Max at 9 p.m. EST on Thursdays. With Episode 5 premiering this week, I’ll be releasing my review later this Wednesday at 9 p.m. EST. In the meantime, here are my reviews of the previous episodes to catch everyone up on my thoughts so far.
Episode 1
The first episode of The Pitt immediately throws you into the madness. Fans of 24 and ER will have plenty to enjoy here. ER is especially fitting here as it not only comes from the Gemmill who worked on the show, but also stars Wyle who starred on the show. I was really curious about Wyle, because he seems like someone I’ve seen before, but to be honest, I think I am getting him mixed up with Thomas Jane. After learning more about Wyle, though, it’s clear he’s the perfect fit for the role. His dedication to the medical field is evident—beyond his time on ER, he’s been deeply involved with organizations like Doctors of the World, among others. It’s clear he’s the ideal person for the role.
I don’t know much when it comes to understanding the terminology the show throws around. Yet, it does a great job at simplifying it to help us better understand. To be fair, I didn’t even think this would be a show for me, which says a lot with the praise I am giving it. Between the intensity and character development, there is more than enough to keep viewers invested.
Even though the show covers an hour in real time, it’s still short of an hour in runtime. We learn a lot about so many characters. Since I am now covering the show, I have seen this episode twice and I am picking up on even more, because the show is throwing a lot at you, and it’s easy to miss things the first time around. It’s a show you want to watch immediately, but watching it at 9pm EST might be too late. It will give you a lot of anxiety, which might keep you up at night. With so many storylines unfolding, there’s plenty to get invested in.
The show doesn’t hold back on the graphic scenes either. Someone comes in from a possible hate crime that leads to a resident passing out (I don’t blame them). A patient makes herself sick to protect their child from hurting other people. A child consumes drugs. A doctor steps a little too close to the edge on the top of a roof. Most of these situations involve Wyle’s character. It’s quite remarkable how collected and knowledgeable he is throughout, even when he’s still reeling over something traumatic. While it doesn’t show what happened during the pandemic exactly, we get glimpses of what it was like for them during that time. I really respect how the show covers how the pandemic still gives the employees trauma. On top of that, he’s also dealing with the possibility of the hospital shutting down with a higher up consistently pestering him.
The only setback I have with this episode involves a patient who speaks a foreign language that no one understands. It takes a while for everyone to understand where the patient comes from. Personally, I don’t quite understand why no one decided to use Chat GPT to figure it out. That would have resolved that issue immediately. It could have not even been Chat GPT. I am just throwing that out there as an example. It just felt like it was a conflict that could have been resolved easier.
VERDICT: 4.5/5 (Amazing)
Episode 2
The show keeps up the momentum all thanks to stellar direction and a tremendous performance from Wyle. Wyle’s performance as Robby is intelligent, cool, collected, and always knows what to say and do. He’s the perfect mentor to everyone around him. He’s not arrogant, but he won’t be afraid to be honest. With the amount of things he’s multitasking, it’s impressive how good he is at his job.
There’s a particular side story involving an older patient where Robby has to be real with the patient’s adult children. The children give Robby more problems, but he’s still patient with them, because he knows what they have to decide is not an easy choice. The fact that he rarely gets mad shows how much he cares for people and for his job.
This episode fleshes out its characters and storylines more. You can see where nothing is ever rushed, which is helped by its hour-by-hour format. You become more and more invested with these stories that you want to see resolved. The show lays out plenty of mystery as well to reel us in to see what happens in the end. At the same time, you just know things are going to only get worse since these employees still have 13 more hours to go. It’s hard to believe this show won’t release its final episode until April 10th.
All the side characters are also relatable and admirable. Most notably, the female characters are well written with some amazing performances. Taylor Dearden as Dr. Melissa “Mel” King is likable as a socially awkward individual. Fiona Dourif is great as Dr. Cassie McKay who has more experience with life over the other ones she works with. She’s a lot more socially aware and it’s clear in this episode that she has quite a bit of personal problems she has to deal with. Then, there is Shabana Azeez as Victoria Javadi who is trying to prove that she’s worthy of her job and not because her parents work there.
Gerran Howell plays as fourth-year medical student Dennis Whitaker who lacks confidence even when he is incredibly smart. The way his character ends this episode will surely set the tone for his character for the rest of this season.
While these storylines continue to progress, the show has a realistic tone to it all. Everyone is consistently busy dealing with people’s problems, but the show still finds time to have heart & humor. It’s quite remarkable how much is jam packed into each episode. You really feel everything with these characters in real time.
VERDICT: 5/5 (Perfect)
Episode 3
Picking up right from the last episode, the show wastes no time getting you back into it. The way this show flows so far can either make you binge watch it or anxiously anticipate for the next episode. This is the equivalent of a weekly episodic show where you can talk about it with your coworkers at the water cooler. You could also binge watch it, but binging all 15 episodes in one sitting sounds overwhelming, which is why I’m okay with the episodic format. Plus, I wouldn’t recommend missing out on this show. The fact that it also releases at a specific time makes it an event worth watching.
Starting where the last episode ended, Gerran Howell’s character as Dennis Whitaker continues to try to revive someone he felt close to. Unfortunately, it doesn’t end well. You’d think he’d give up afterwards, but he keeps going. There’s even a comedic side plot involving him having to get new clothes. That’s the reality of people who work in this field. They have to make their best judgement and keep going. It has to be draining and traumatic at the same time. It’s no wonder Wyle’s character as Robby is still reeling from the pandemic.
You’d think with the amount of arrogance Robbie exudes, he’d show no sympathy. That continues to not be the case. He takes the time to respect those who passed. He checks in with those around him. He’s genuine with everyone around him. Given what his colleague almost went through in the first episode, I hope he doesn’t try to do the same at the end of this season.
More and more madness ensues. Not only are prior storylines still going, but new situations arise. Someone with a nail in his chest comes in. A girl who won’t wake up also comes in who has a connection with a comatose patient from the prior episode. There’s an open heart surgery. An EMT gets their shoulder hit by a truck. The anxiety doesn’t stop.
Other notable characters in this episode are Dr. Trinity Santos, played by Isa Briones, and Dr. Frank Langdon, played by Patrick Ball. Santos has a lot of arrogance that needs to be checked. People might be annoyed by her. Similar to Squid Game’s Thanos, Briones does a great job at playing a character that is not meant to be completely liked. The difference is that what she does is a result of a coping mechanism. Langdon could be arrogant, but it’s clear his arrogance is in check. He does have experience that makes him an effective right hand for Robby. Whenever he has down time, he’s always concerned about getting his kids a dog, which shows how he can keep going with the amount of things he has to go through.
Dr. Samira Mohan, played by Supriya Ganesh, has a notable scene with Robby. Robby calls her out on going too slow. She tries to reassure him by saying that she has the highest success rate, where Robby argues that the slower she goes, the less people they can treat. He snaps her out of it, persuading her to do more. I’m really interested to see what she does next.
There is so much more that occurs that I won’t even spoil it. There are twists and turns at every corner that will keep you engaged. The episode concludes with Robby helping a grieving woman with a connection to a patient from the first episode. Robby didn’t deal with the patient directly. It’s interesting to see the person who tried to help the patient versus the person having to deal with the fall out.
I could see where the daughter of the older patient might be a little much or even selfish to some people, but I believe the actress played the character perfectly. It makes complete sense to want to hold onto your loved ones longer. Considering how much time is spent with this storyline, it’s going to be interesting to see how it ends.
Now I just need to know if Robby gets that bathroom break in the next episode. At least there’s more reality to that over 24.
VERDICT: 5/5 (Perfect)
Episode 4
Episode 4 continues to solidify the fact that this is one of the best shows out now that you don’t want to miss. It’s actually impressive how production is able to pick up right after the last episode as though there was no break in between.
We see the conclusion of the older man with his two kids. At what first seemed like it wouldn’t amount to much, ended up bringing together some of the show’s core themes. We see his children reach peace with the decision, but we also see where Robby has flashbacks from the pandemic that took place in the same room. It shows how the scars never go away. It’s incredibly poignant. The talent who played the son and daughter of the dad were incredible.
This episode slows down quite a bit. There’s a trans character who gets their arm cut who finds some respect from the people treating her. Robby finally gets that bathroom break. A grumpy patient finally gets the treatment he needed from the first episode. Whitaker goes through something comedic that’s going to require him to change clothes again. It’s an episode where it felt like a lot of storylines are starting to come to a close. You even get to see Dr. Mohan taking on more responsibilities since her talk with Robby.
Now that I have seen all 4 episodes twice, it’s quite remarkable how I’m catching new details that make more sense. The amount of things everyone has to go through all while staying calm not only shows how well crafted the story is, but also how committed the talent is to their characters. The show is a true love letter to the the heroes that work in this field.
The only thing I didn’t like in this episode was the very end. Just as everything starts to resolve, a brand new issue comes up at a convenient time that makes us wait for the next episode. Personally, it would have been okay if the show ended before that happened to help us breathe a little until the next episode. I understand the point of it is to show the job never stops. It just felt like incredibly convenient timing to keep us wanting to see the next episode. Nonetheless, I’m curious to see how this plays into the next episode.
The Girl with the Needle is a 2024 Danish historical psychological horror film directed by Magnus von Horn, from a screenplay written by von Horn & Line Langebek. The film was selected to compete for the Palme d’Or at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, named one of the top 5 international films of the year by the National Board of Review, and nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards and for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards. The film takes place in 1919 where Karoline, played by Vic Carmen Sonne, who works as a wet nurse for a secretive adoption agency for disadvantaged mothers, grows suspicious of the woman who runs the operation.
I’ve been interested in the film for quite some time now, but a release date in the U.S., nor a digital screener, was available. Now that it became available on Mubi, I finally got around to seeing it. Since it’s now an Oscar nominee for the Best International Feature Film category, it felt like now was a perfect time to review it. Taking place 105 years prior to its release date, it’s fitting for the film to transport you back in time with it being in black-and-white. The opening credits are even in black-and-white (even if it goes on long enough to be a running gag).
This film truly blew me away. Many people are excited by the fact that The Substance is getting nominations at the Oscars, but I don’t think this one is getting the proper attention. To be fair, it’s been a lot harder to find and to watch. This story, though, is not for the faint of heart. It has imagery and story beats that will stay with you. For context, I am currently having to play Inside Out 2 in the background to having something more upbeat playing. If anything, I believe that goes to show how effective The Girl with the Needle is.
There’s quite a bit of story setup here that I clocked at around 40 minutes. For a 2-hour movie, that may not be for everyone. Some even may question if it was added just to fill up the runtime. To me, it adds so much development to the characters and to the story. Just when things get bad for Karoline, you think the major inciting incident is going to occur… and you’d be wrong. Everything she goes through gets worse and worse. At first, it seems like her problems of her own doing. Instead, her problems stem from the way people take advantage of her. It could speak on the way the horrors of war and societal issues were addressed at the time, but I’d go a step further to say that it still speaks on issues today.
From the way war veterans are treated when they come back home to tackling topics like abortion access and the morality around it is something that I believe viewers could strongly relate to. With a horror undertone, it brings shock, awe, and entertainment, but it will leave you with a dreadful feeling that we need do better for others and not do the things we believe will be for the best. The themes can get a little meddled at times. I wasn’t sure if the film was trying to condone abortion at times. I don’t believe that was the case. Then again, this is going to be a film that many people will get something different out of it.
One of the film’s strongest assets comes from the lead performance from actress Vic Carmen Sonne. Had I saw this sooner, she could have made possibly made it into my top 10 performances of the year. She is so earnest in her approach. You believe everything she is feeling. Every time things keeping worse for her, you feel even worse for her. It’s a performance that is 100% carried from start to finish. I can’t wait to see what she does next.
The film’s other strong assets stem from the cinematography and sound design. As mentioned, the film transports you back to its time, and that wouldn’t be possible without the film’s technical components. Not only does the film look like it was literally shot in 1919, but it has some beautiful imagery. It is consistently amazing to look at it, even in the film’s more disturbing scenes. The sound design is just as effective with bringing you back to its time. From the way the dialogue sounds to the eerie score, this offers something in film that is far too rare these days.
Overall, I can totally get on board with the praise The Girl with the Needle is getting, along with the awards recognition. The performances, cinematography, and sound design are all effective. The pacing may not be for everyone and the themes may get overlooked, but there is still something engaging and original here that’s worth exploring. I can’t see it winning Best International Feature Film at the Oscars, but the nomination warrants the film’s quality.
Presence is a film that was released initially in 2024 at the Sundance Film Festival, but had it wide release this weekend. On a quick side note, it’s crazy how long it takes for certain films to be publicly available after a debut at a film festival. Directed by Steven Soderbergh (Ocean’s Trilogy, Logan Lucky) and written by David Koepp (Jurassic Park, Secret Window), the film stars Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan, and Callina Liang. The plot revolves around a family who moves into a suburban home and becomes convinced they’re not alone.
Soderbergh happens to be one of the biggest names in film working right now, and yet, he continues to make smaller independent films. His ability allows him to release movies once, sometimes twice, a year. He already had another film with David Koepp as writer coming out in about 2 months titled Black Bag. What’s so surprising is how he continues to create something new, fresh, and exciting. I can already see this not being for everyone as it’s not as horror as the promos would like you to think; however, it’s Soderbergh’s ability to create something that mimics the horror tone for this family drama.
Lucy Liu is an underrated actress, and she’s great here, but seeing Chris Sullivan act as her husband was quite surprising. The actor is 12 years younger than the actress. Even though the couple’s marriage in the film is strained due to Liu’s character committed something illegal, there is something familiar between the fictional husband and wife. Some may be familiar with Sullivan’s work on This Is Us. It’s great to see Sullivan get some bigger work, especially with the like Liu & Soderbergh. Liu & Sullivan act completely in sync and totally believable as a couple. That’s why it’s even more convincing to believe what this couple goes through, making it easier to sympathize with their situation.
Many viewers will tell you this is not at all what you’d expect from a movie like this. My best suggestion is to keep it that way. I heard the film’s true format before I saw it. While it’s not the film’s major twist, it’s unique approach took the surprise of the film’s format away from me. Since the film follows a strict format throughout, there are a lot of one-take shots, showing how much time Soderbergh spends with his talent to create authentic performances, all while allowing the cast to fully memorize their dialogue. The camera work is also quite seamless and never misses a beat. This approach may not be for everyone as it doesn’t answer all the questions, but the film ends on a note that gives you more than enough to piece the rest together.
One major standout in the film is star Callina Liang, who plays as the couple’s teenage daughter. I can see Liang’s career taking off after this. It’s great to see a talented actor or actress who’s career will take off when they haven’t been in anything major. From what I can see, she has a few credits under her belt. Truthfully, she is the film’s major character. Without her, the film’s thematic messages don’t work. The way she displays anxiety & emotion is deeply authentic.
Liu’s character as her mom is more obsessed with her brother, Tyler, played Eddy Maday. It doesn’t seem like his character is as important as you would think. Liu’s character treats him as some sort of god, and it can get weird with how much she treats him like a surrogate husband. When the true reality of his character comes into play, it will make you reevaluate everything you saw, especially with the way he treats his family and how his family treats him.
The way this film concludes literally had my jaw on the floor. I didn’t want to accept it, and that’s something that will also turn people off. While the twist does work for its story and themes, the reality of the fallout doesn’t make as much sense. There’s so much that’s open in the air that the family manages to piece together. I guess it is believable, but I also think the film could have spent more time showing that fallout. I would have loved to have seen how the family reacted to it all. The ending not only had me almost in tears, but it made me want to rewatch it as it made me view the film in a brand new perspective.
Overall, Presence won’t for everyone, even those looking for a simply ghost horror story. To me, this felt like director Steven Soderbergh utilizing his past techniques as a filmmaker to create something new and exciting that’s fitting for the film’s story. The twist is amongst one of the best one’s I have seen in recent memory. In the end, it will probably give you emotional damage, but it also probably wouldn’t have been possible without the film’s talented cast and tremendous camera work.
Inheritance is a new film set for release in theaters on January 24, 2025. The film follows a young woman drawn into an international conspiracy after discovering her father is a spy. Phoebe Dynevor & Rhys Ifans star in the leading roles with a script from Neil Burger & Olen Steinhauer and it is directed by Burger himself.
I knew almost nothing about the film other than the small logline. I initially didn’t even have this on my watchlist for the month. However, it grabbed my attention when I got an early screening for the film. I am so happy I watched it immediately. January has been good to us so far, but this film easily takes the cake. I have already seen some reviews on Letterboxd, and I hope this film gets the attention it deserves.
What was really surprising about the film is how it just throws you right into the situation. Within the first 20 minutes, you understand this character and her motives. The film just takes off from there and never lets go. It’s actually quite impressive what the film is able to do within its smaller runtime that’s something between 90 and 100 minutes. Dynevor is convincing her role as someone who always gets the bad end of the stick. On a personal level, I could relate to how much she tries to believe people are good, which ends up giving her a dynamic story that’s easy to follow.
I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Dynevor gets more leading roles after this. Rhys Ifans is great, but even on a supporting level, he never overshadows the film’s main star. Ifans was a perfect fit for the role as someone who will manipulate those around him to get what he deserves. You feel things from Dynevor’s perspective, and you want to believe her dad is a good person.
Dynevor’s characterization helps keep the momentum going as you see her travel from country to country evading trouble. There’s a particular car chase that truly blew my mind. It reinvented what an action scene could look like in an espionage thriller. As someone who grew up on spy movies, I haven’t seen something this inventive since The Bourne Ultimatum. The way the camera cuts from all angles is truly impressive. What’s even more impressive is how the editing looks so seamless, when I am sure in reality, it was not easy to stop traffic to film these scenes.
The cinematography may not be for everyone. I noticed it immediately when we get a close up of characters next to each other. It’s uncomfortable, but it’s also quite unique. I wouldn’t have thought to have used this particular style. The film is all the better for it. While I had no problem with it, it works better in the film’s more intense scenes. There’s a sense of feeling like you are right there with these characters. It’s almost like you are someone spying in on these spies. It’s very fun and creative.
While the film has a lot of high points, the film’s script doesn’t always work int the film’s favor. There are some performances that are wooden and sound robotic that could have been easily improved, but I am sure a tight schedule was the cause of it. The ending, while it is deeply thematic, is also deeply unrealistic. The way the film wraps up is satisfying, but it also forgets all of the loose ends. It acts like a sequel is inevitable, when in reality, it won’t ever happen. More problems come up for this character. Just because she gets one solution, all of her problems apparently vanish. A sequel could be a good way to flesh out what happens. Realistically, I would be surprised if it did get a sequel. It works better on its own. Due to that, it would have been far better had the film found a way to either resolve everything or not bring up more problems for the main character.
Overall, Inheritance truly surprised me in nearly every way. It’s style may not be for everyone, but it offers something new and exciting on what has to be a smaller budget. For a January release, I was consistently enthralled in the suspense and with the story. Pheobe Dynevor & Rhys Ifans both give some terrific performances. While the story can be quite unbelievable at times, the film still offers plenty of entertainment value. This is without a doubt one of the most thrilling movies I have seen in quite some time. It’s certainly worth checking out when it comes out this weekend.
The Creative Cinematic Collection 
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