Deeply unpleasant, which I suppose was the point. Not sure I will ever watch this again but it was extremely memorable, which counts for something
I have been wanting to rewatch this movie for days now... I think I've watched almost every interview with the cast/crew at this point haha. I never do that with movies. I just think it's sooo cool that everyone that worked on the movie was like 30 years old (and younger) and they did it all for $750k, but it's already made almost $200 million. I just read that it got an extended theater run and they are pushing back the digital release because it just keeps getting people in the door like crazy. I really loved this movie and I've loved seeing all the well deserved success they're getting.
I did read a critique I somewhat agreed with about this being Bear's story as opposed to Nicki's, which it could be argued only adds to the actual "horror presented," but it did make me think about how interesting this story would have been from Nicki/the entity's POV. I'm not sure if that's really been done before (so don't steal it lmao).
I think part of what works is it's like Frozen or Beauty and the Beast where you think of this guy is the good guy or protagonist psych he sucks, especially with how it ties into toxic masculinity Presence is from the perspective of a ghost, as is um Ghost, but I don't think any movie is from the perspective of a demon other than American Sniper
Watched it for a second time tonight. It really struck me more the moment Bear clearly knew his wish came true, but didn't care to fight it. Basically when he gets the call that she lied about her dad's cancer. But after that, he only tries to plead with her to act normal, to be Nikki, or when he's desperate he calls to get his wish altered. He was content with his wish. He didn't tell his guy friend the truth until it was too late. My friend who hadn't seen it kept saying to me, "Why doesn't he run?" or "Why is he going back to her?" I just read a take pointing out the obvious that he's obsessed with her. I feel dumb for not thinking of the title from that perspective. He should have tried to cancel his wish sooner, but he couldn't let her go. The first time I was also too horrified to laugh, but this time there were parts I found funnier. My favorite is at the party when it cuts to Nikki's frown after he reads the block. That frown has become such a great meme.
The movie was sexed up af, it was just subtle and ordinary people would just think it's funny. I know my theater laughed at it, but I was like, hell yeah.
I love reading Walter Chaw because every once in a while he'll drop a huge fuckin doozy of a take, like the strays caught by Obsession in his pan of Backrooms.
Chaw is a guy whose writing I admire, but his opinions are either super positive or incredibly angry that it’s sometimes tough to take serious.
He's one of the few critics left I still read because I appreciate how he sticks to his guns / recurring concerns with no concern for or concessions to popular opinion, and when his rage aligns with mine it's uniquely satisfying (as with his intense loathing of the Avatar movies). but yeah I also get definitely finding his style and shall we say passion level a bit much ha
For fear of opinions that run contrary to your own you're missing out on some of the most entertaining film writing of the last couple decades imho!