The Reelist

Tag: review

  • “Obsession” review

    “Obsession” review

    Every once in a while, there seems to be a film that comes out of nowhere that takes theaters and audiences by storm. This time it’s Obsession, the new horror movie from Blumhouse that seemingly everyone is seeing and talking about, and for good reason. Led by its strong lead performances, impressive cinematography, and immersive sound design, Obsession is easily one of the best films of the year so far and one of the best horror films of recent times.  

    Directed by a relatively unknown Curry Barker, Obsession follows Bear, a hopeless romantic who is in love with his childhood friend, Nikki. After a night out with her and a few other friends, Bear fumbles a chance to confess his feelings to her. Frustrated with himself, Bear uses a trinket he bought at a store called a One Wish Willow to make a wish that Nikki would love him more than anyone else. It immediately works, but eventually to a horrifying extent. 

    Inde Navarrette as Nikki

    Obsession is not your typical horror film, mainly because it’s ultimately a bleak horror tragedy. There are some jump scares and a general feeling of uneasiness throughout, so it is effective in the scares department. But this is pretty sad stuff, to the point where it borders on being genuinely mean-spirited. Fortunately, Barker’s background in comedy does eventually come through with some comedic moments sprinkled in here and there to lighten the mood and prevent it from becoming oppressively bleak. Despite that, this is still a tragic cautionary tale that will haunt you long after you leave the theater. 

    Obsession wouldn’t work nearly as well without Inde Navarrette’s outstanding performance as Nikki. The amount of range she expresses here is impressive, and it wouldn’t be surprising to hear her name pop up during awards season. Michael Johnston also turns in a solid performance as the protagonist (or antagonist, depending on how you look at it) Bear. The film rests heavily on these two performances, and they do not disappoint, especially Navarrette. 

    Michael Johnston as Bear

    The quality of the lead performances shouldn’t overshadow some of the other things the film accomplishes. One of the standouts here is the excellent cinematography by Taylor Clemons. The way the film uses lighting and shadows to enhance the suspense is textbook horror filmmaking. Sometimes it’s not always about what you see, but what you don’t see. The sound design is an unsung hero as well. In the more tense scenes, the score evokes a feeling of dread and some of the sounds that occur, especially off-screen, only add to that feeling.  

    Another aspect of Obsession that plays in its favor is just how much of it is unexplained and left open to interpretation. There is very little exposition about who the characters are and their backstories. There is dialogue that gives us just enough to have a general idea, but much is still unknown. The same applies for the idea of the One Wish Willow. What exactly is it? How does it grant the wish? How exactly did it affect Nikki? These are questions that are not answered and are left open to interpretation and discussion. What’s left open to our imagination is often just as chilling as what we see and know.

    All in all, Obsession stands tall as one of the best horror movies in recent years, a feat that’s even more impressive when you consider its miniscule $750,000 budget. Two weeks after releasing in theaters, it’s now made over $100 million globally. It’s proof that you don’t need an IP or a big-name director attached to a project for it to do well. What you do need is a cast and crew that cares about their craft, and the rest will take care of itself. The end result of Obsession is a shining example of that. 

    Rating: 4.5/5

  • “Carolina Caroline” review

    “Carolina Caroline” review

    The new romantic crime thriller, Carolina Caroline, directed by Adam Rehmeier and starring Samara Weaving and Kyle Gallner, is the first screening I decided to attend at Philadelphia Film Society’s 2026 Springfest. Set sometime in the past and in the backdrop of the American southeast, this new-age “Bonnie and Clyde” style film has an old-school charm that’s hard to resist. While it’s ultimately predictable and familiar, it is still an enjoyable experience, anchored by two solid lead performances by Samara Weaving and Kyle Gallner. 

    For anyone that’s seen Bonnie and Clyde, or anything similar to it, the plot of Carolina Caroline will sound quite familiar. A young woman named Caroline, who lives with her dad, meets an outlaw named Oliver. Swept off her feet by his good looks and charm, Caroline decides to join Oliver, leaving a trail of crime while simultaneously looking for her estranged mother throughout the southeast United States. 

    While there are a few wrinkles thrown in here and there to slightly differentiate it, this type of story has been done before. This familiarity can be comforting, but it’s also what makes the film predictable. We’ve all seen how these romantic crime thrillers go and, without saying too much, it follows the same trajectory more or less. Of course, that does not make it bad by any means. There’s a good amount of entertainment, it’s just that I feel like I’ve seen it before.

    Despite all of that, there is still much to like here. Many of the production aspects of the film are solid, particularly the cinematography and production design. While not explicitly stated, it takes place sometime in the past, and things such as the production design and costumes help convey that pretty clearly. It gives it sort of this “classic” look and feel that others in the genre try to pull off, but don’t do it nearly as well. 

    Carolina Caroline is not a film that attempts to break new ground in the romantic crime thriller genre. It doesn’t try to do too much and plays it pretty safe, which results in a predictable story that you’ve probably seen before. Nevertheless, this is still an entertaining, well-made and acted film that does more right than wrong. This is essentially a modern age Bonnie and Clyde, and it pays homage to it quite well in that sense. 

    Rating: 3.5/5

  • “The Drama” review

    “The Drama” review

    The Drama is quite the drama, all right. It’s been a while since a movie has been so heavily marketed a certain way, only to go in a completely different direction by the middle of the movie. The unconventional nature of this rom-com ends up being both a strength and a weakness, resulting in a flawed, yet entertaining film that will leave you thinking about it for quite some time. 

    The Drama, directed and written by Kristoffer Borgli, stars Zendaya and Robert Pattinson as couple Emma and Charlie. Emma and Charlie meet at a café, and two years later they are engaged. During the week of the wedding, they go out with their maid of honor, Rachel, and best man, Mike, for drinks. While talking, Emma makes a shocking revelation that makes Charlie question whether he really knows her and if he wants to marry her. 

    Zendaya and Robert Pattinson as Emma and Charlie

    As with practically every rom-com, the film rests heavily on the chemistry between the two leads, and both Zendaya and Pattinson deliver here. Their chemistry feels natural and unforced, and it results in the viewer being able to buy into Emma and Charlie’s relationship. It makes Emma’s sudden revelation more impactful too. This twist is sort of the film’s superpower because it is a catalyst in the plot while also being what makes the film unique to a certain extent. It’s definitely a good thing in that sense. 

    Where the movie suffers a bit is in regard to the timing of the twist. It’s revealed around the half-hour mark, which I think was too soon. What ends up happening is two things. First, it minimizes the impact of Emma’s revelation a bit. While it is still impactful to an extent, it would’ve been even more so if the film took more time building up to it. The second thing that ends up happening is that, because the reveal happens so early, Charlie spends so much time dwelling on it that the film ends up becoming very repetitive. It’s almost like the filmmakers didn’t know what else to do with the remaining runtime, so they re-hash the same thing over and over again and it eventually gets tiresome. Perhaps a better script could have avoided this, but unfortunately that’s not the case here. 

    Despite being repetitive, The Drama does remain interesting and entertaining. There is a good amount of comedy sprinkled in, and the film is pretty thoughtful overall. Many might find themselves in Charlie’s situation (though not quite to that extent), asking if they truly know their partner, or having doubts leading up to a wedding. In the extremeness of The Drama, there is some relatability and thoughtfulness in regard to dealing with the potential anxiety of marriage and commitment to someone you may not think you truly know.   

    Overall, The Drama is a decent but flawed rom-com. It does some things right, namely the chemistry between the leads, but its repetitive nature will lead to some viewers feeling exhausted after a while. That being said, the film is still good and entertaining enough to be an enjoyable time at the theaters. 

    Rating: 3.5/5

  • “Project Hail Mary” review

    “Project Hail Mary” review

    There are movies, and then there are experiences. Project Hail Mary, based on the 2021 novel of the same name, falls in the latter category. Directed by duo Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, and starring Ryan Gosling, this is a film that aims to bring back that old school, hopeful sense of escapism. While not perfect, the film at the very least succeeds at that, and is sure to bring plenty of moviegoers back to the theater for an unforgettable adventure. 

    Project Hail Mary tells the story of a man named Ryland Grace who wakes up from a coma on a spacecraft. At first, he is unsure of where he’s at and how he got there, but the memories eventually start coming back. He’s a middle school science teacher and former molecular biologist who was recruited by the government to study a microorganism known as Astrophage, which is responsible for the Sun’s dimming. If not stopped, the Sun’s dimming will result in a catastrophic global cooling of the Earth within thirty years. Grace also learns that he is the sole survivor of a three-person crew on board, light years away from Earth. The mission, known as Project Hail Mary, is basically a suicide mission: there’s only enough fuel for a one-way trip to Tau Ceti, the only undimmed nearby star. The spacecraft carries probes to send the crew’s findings back to Earth. However, as Grace approaches Tau Ceti, he comes into contact with a rock-like alien whom he names “Rocky.” Not alone anymore, Grace and Rocky work together to save the solar system. 

    Rocky

    First things first, it is pretty obvious that this film was made with a ton of love and respect for the source material. Everything from the cinematography, editing, costumes and special effects is top notch. All of this combined really pulls the viewer into the world and provides a complete sense of escapism. And it does so with an honest, hopeful tone that harkens back to the old school days of sci-fi adventures such as E.T. Even though the film’s plot is bleak to an extent, I left the theater feeling hopeful and even interested in reading the novel. When a film is made with love, care, and respect for the craft, you can feel it. 

    The main star of the show is, of course, Ryan Gosling. I always thought Gosling was an underrated actor. His work lately, however, probably doesn’t qualify him as underrated anymore. He gives yet another solid performance here, which is important considering he’s practically in every scene. There aren’t many other characters in this film, so it demanded a solid lead performance, and Gosling delivered as usual. 

    Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace

    My only real complaint with the movie is that the pacing felt off at times. I think it slowed down too much at certain points, and towards the end it seemed like it didn’t know when to end. There were multiple times when I thought the film was coming to a conclusion, only for it to go on for longer. Maybe that’s how the book actually is, so perhaps this is due to the limitations faced when doing a book-to-film adaptation, as certain things don’t always translate well from page to screen. Even so, the filmmakers probably could’ve trimmed about 10-15 minutes off its 156-minute runtime, and it likely would’ve resulted in better pacing. 

    Ryan Gosling recently said something that stuck out to me. When visiting a screening of Project Hail Mary, he said to the audience “It’s not your job to keep theaters open. It’s our job to make things that make it worth you coming out.” I saw that quote before my screening of the film, and after watching it, it rings even more true. It isn’t a coincidence that Project Hail Mary is doing well both critically and financially. It’s because it’s made by people who cared enough to make it worth coming to see. At the end of the day, that’s all we can really ask for.

    Rating: 4/5

  • “Scream 7” review

    “Scream 7” review

    The Scream franchise has long been a favorite of mine. Ever since I saw the original, I was hooked, and I’ve watched every movie in the franchise multiple times. When I saw that Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott was coming back as the lead after taking a backseat in Scream (2022), and being entirely absent from Scream 6, I was very interested. Combine that with Kevin Williamson, the writer of the original Scream, along with sequels Scream 2 and Scream 4, returning to the franchise to direct, I thought there was a chance for something special here. Unfortunately, that ended up not being the case. Scream 7 ultimately feels like a pointless entry into a series that has probably gone on for too long at this point. 

    After the fifth Scream installment in 2022, there seemed to have been a passing of the torch. New directors Matt-Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett took over for the late Wes Craven, and the series seemed to have a new lead girl in the form of Melissa Barrera’s Sam Carpenter. After some creative differences and controversies, Scream 7 shifted its attention back to Sidney Prescott. Set approximately two years after the events of Scream 6, the film follows Sidney in Pine Grove, Indiana, where she has settled down with her husband Mark, who is the sheriff, and her daughter, Tatum. Life is good until Sidney gets a call from Ghostface, who begins targeting her and her daughter.

    Neve Campbell returns as Sidney Prescott

    My main issue with this film is that it’s ultimately pretty pointless. After Scream 4, Sidney’s story felt complete. Bringing in a fresh set of characters in 5 with a new story to tell was a great move and injected some life into the franchise. I can’t help but think that the filmmakers took a step back by going back to Sidney. It’s nothing against Neve Campbell either, she’s fine in the movie. It’s just that there isn’t much of a story to tell with Sidney anymore. Ghostface’s motives in this film basically proves that. The motives don’t make much sense and feel kind of ridiculous. There wasn’t a good enough reason to return to Sidney, therefore, Ghostface’s motives aren’t good enough either. 

    There are also some things in this film that simply don’t make any sense. Without going into much detail to avoid spoilers, there are some situations involving AI that really cause the viewer to have to suspend their disbeliefs. I get that it’s a movie, but at some point it does get a bit ridiculous. There are also some events and decisions by characters that either feel out of place or completely illogical. This franchise has always had these issues to an extent due to its meta nature and being in the confines of the horror genre, but this one really pushes its limits. 

    Scream 7 isn’t all bad, however. It is well-paced and never seems to drag. It is consistently interesting and kept me guessing about the identity of Ghostface. I also liked how the film used AI throughout its plot to keep viewers thinking about what’s real and isn’t real. It certainly added to the ‘whodunnit’ nature of the plot, even if its juggling of ideas regarding AI push the boundaries of believability. 

    All in all, Scream 7 feels like a step back for the franchise. There is some good here, but not nearly enough to outweigh the bad and continue the momentum set by the previous two films. It’s frustrating because, while the quality of this film isn’t very good, it will do well at the box office, so there will inevitably be another sequel. And unless the creative team gets overhauled, expect more of the same. 

    Rating: 2/5

  • “Marty Supreme” review

    “Marty Supreme” review

    As far as sports dramas go, Marty Supreme is one of the most unique and entertaining ones out there. Directed by Josh Safdie, the film blends multiple different genres together to subvert expectations on what a sports drama can be. Couple all of that with another award-worthy performance from Timothee Chalamet, and the result is one of the best films of 2025. 

    Marty Supreme is loosely based on the life and career of American table tennis player Marty Reisman. Set in the 1950s, the film follows Marty Mouser (yes, there’s a name change) as he goes from working as a shoe salesman to becoming a prolific table tennis player with dreams of winning multiple tournaments to bring American attention to the sport. This does not end up going smoothly, as many issues both personally and professionally threaten Marty’s dreams of becoming the top dog. 

    Timothee Chalamet as Marty Mouser

    First, let’s get the obvious out of the way: Timothee Chalamet is brilliant as Marty Mouser. This might be a career-best performance from him in a young career already featuring multiple outstanding performances. He is no doubt going to once again be in the thick of the Oscar race. The rest of the cast holds up their end of the bargain, but this is Chalamet’s movie through and through. Where he goes, this movie goes, and he soars very high here. 

    At its core though, this is a film with much more to offer than just an excellent star performance. One of its many strengths is how it blends multiple genres to create something that feels fresh and entertaining. The film works as a sports drama, but it almost feels like a heist movie as well, similar to Safdie’s Uncut Gems. Without going into too much detail to avoid spoilers, Marty is very often on the move due to circumstances involving money, which creates feelings of tension and on-edge. The pacing also helps with this, as the movie is fast paced, but never too fast. This allows enough time to flesh out the characters while also keeping the plot going at a relentless, intense pace. There’s also some sprinkles of comedy here and there to keep things light enough. Safdie’s script, which he co-wrote with frequent collaborator Ronald Bronstein, is sharp, quick-witted, and consistently engaging. 

    There isn’t much at fault with the film. With a runtime of 150 minutes, perhaps it could have been a little shorter. With how well it’s paced though, it’s not too much of an issue. Again, it’s a testament to how well written it is. I fully expect this film to get nominated for and win multiple awards come award season time. Chalamet will be up for best actor of course, and I can see it at the very least getting nominations for screenplay, production design, cinematography, best picture, and probably a few others. There’s no question that Marty Supreme is an impressive piece of work in many aspects. 

    Rating: 4.5/5