Curse of Crom 2: Crom's Fury Review

Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!

Plot Summary: Crom is accidentally freed from his tomb and decides to kill randos with the help of the gremlins.

Review: I actually really enjoyed the first entry--it had that kind of charm and fun that kids' movies used to be known for. So, when a part 2 was announced as "Crom's Fury"--and that they were filming scenes in Ireland--I thought "Okay, Crom is not going to be messing around." Alas, this felt like a step down from part 1 despite a better attempt at scale and scope. However, I do want to acknowledge that part 2 did appear to take feedback from part 1 that influenced and helped improve many aspects of the filmmaking.

So what worked this time around? Crom looks better, his design is more menacing, and the special effects were vastly improved. As such, the body count is greatly increased, but I will get back to that later. The background characters are amplified in their quirkiness and charm for better or worse. Likewise, they play a more central role in the movie--altering the trajectory of the story in a path you wouldn't expect after part 1; for example, I did like Harvey and Stephanie getting together better than Harvey with Mary. The concept of going to Ireland and fighting Crom on his home turf was a satisfying and natural progression of the story. Other than these kind of general good ideas and improvements, I will simply add that the film retains that goofy, rated PG vibe that sets it apart from its peers.

Okay, so what went wrong? The story is a mess. Crom's "fury" my ass! Crom does so little besides kill random background characters...and to what end? We have no idea why. And we can't even be sure who kills who since they added these cornball creatures, the pookas, who serve as Crom's minion fodder. I'll admit, they look decent, but they're just the damn gremlins. And, while on the subject of Temu versions, it was kind of funny that they leaned into the one actor looking like The Rock and added "Uncle Dwayne." Amusing. But, getting back to Crom...he kidnaps Mary which makes the entire dynamic of this sequel feel off. The primary character of the previous entry is almost completely absent, and we don't get the epic rescue that is alluded throughout. Yes, we go to Ireland, and even Crom's world, yet, there is no big fight or epic escape or just anything. The buildup is there, but the execution is sorely lacking. Maybe it was budgetary limits, but, still, we needed a better payoff. And since part 3 is clearly hinted, hopefully we get a better resolution to all of these events, because this was not a satisfying conclusion whatsoever.

In general, if you liked part 1, this is more or less of the same caliber. Perhaps others will prefer the approach of this entry over the original, however, I felt part 1 had better pacing, ideas, and direction. Watching them back to back is somewhat complementary despite the actress playing Mary being replaced. Many aspects were improved upon, and I do appreciate the charm and kid-friendly aspect to a Halloween-themed horror. With that said, if they're serious about this being a trilogy...go balls to walls on part 3! Mary and her crew should have a big showdown against Crom. Play up Halloween more--it was totally half-assed in this installment. Finally, lean heavy into the Celtic mythology. Why bother going to Ireland if all you do is visit a pub and joke about Guinness?! Overall, I can't necessarily recommend this entry as a standalone film, but I can suggest to watch this and part 1 together as a (currently) double-feature.

Notable Moment: When they have the car chase with Crom. This is the kind of escalation and improvement I wanted for the whole movie. 

Final Rating: 5.5/10 

The Jester 2 Review

Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!

Plot Summary: The Jester is back again to terrorize people on Halloween except now he needs the assistance of an amateur magician.

Review: The first movie was essentially an edgy episode of "Are You Afraid of the Dark" as it were, and part 2 is more of the same. Seriously, you tone down on the gore and profanity and this quickly enters PG territory fast. You'd think a sequel would go balls to wall, but this felt more contradictory to part one rather than complementary. I can get behind that if you have great ideas, however, this was not the "Terrifier 2" equivalent I'd imagine others would want.

What did actually work for me was the origin of the Jester. As it turns out, the Jester, when human, somehow tricked the devil and, as a reward/consequence, was granted his supernatural abilities and immortality as long as he sends 4 souls to hell every Halloween. The catch...the Jester must trick his victims with his antics before he kills them in order to complete the ritual fully. Yes, it doesn't make sense given the antics we saw in part 1, but we can imagine he performed this ritual off screen perhaps. Otherwise, the Jester is free to wreak havoc in whatever ways he wants. I think this is an admirable explanation if we even needed one. I also want to add that the Jester does at least look significantly better with a proper makeup effect rather than that shit-tier mask from part 1.

This backstory isn't just to fill in the gaps--it serves as the primary point of the story. A high school girl, named Max, who is an aspiring magician, accidentally foils the tricks of the Jester and takes on his mantle for the night. Big shock, she sends the Jester to hell instead of him getting his 4 souls. Sorry, but this ain't "Halloween 4" here. Are we seriously plotting "The Jester 3" with this chick as the antagonist? Speaking of Max, her being like--what--15 I think, only accentuates the kid's movie vibe. And no wonder her mom is concerned--every person this chick is hanging out with is an adult man. Hmm. And talk about the weakest reaction ever to finding out your mom was killed. OH NO! So, anyway...

If--and that's a big IF--this gets a part 3, for the love of God, commit to either making a kid's movie or actually earning that R-rating. As it stands, this franchise is middling; there's nothing of note one way or another going on here. I actually think the Jester himself is a cool design--his chaotic nature mixed with Halloween hi-jinks should be fun. Overall, if you liked part 1 then this is more of the same except a tad better story. If part 1 wasn't doing it for you, then part 2 is going to feel as equally bland but with worse pacing.

Notable Moment: When Max just happens to get a ride from a random pedophile. I mean, the movie is already coded this way so why not fully embrace it, right?!

Final Rating: 5/10 

Obsession (2025) Review

Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!

Plot Summary: An awkward man experiences the most disastrous results after magically wishing his crush will love him.

Review: Simply put, this movie is a phenomenon--a, once in a decade, cultural moment similarly to "Halloween" or "The Blair Witch Project." I actually couldn't even watch this movie for like a month, because the showings kept selling out. But does "Obsession" actually live up to the hype? YES! As rare as it is, I was legitimately scared at one point and couldn't sleep right after my midnight showing ended; I kept thinking Nikki might be in the room with me! I dare say, "Obsession" is haunting--scratching its way into your mind, whether you realize it or not, and lingers with you long after the credits roll.

To properly explain what makes this movie work, I have to address the obvious: the character of Nikki steals the show. Played magnificently, and psychotically, by Inde Navarrette, your reaction to Nikki will shape your perception of everything. Maybe it's the memes, or how impactful the movie has been, but Nikki has firmly established herself in the cultural lexicon. My favorite is the infamous frown but with her photoshopped as Supergirl! Ms. Navarrette's performance is so nuanced with her subtle facial expressions and voice alterations...with some clutch help from the lighting. Something else that is hard to adequately explain is that she straddles a weird line of being attractive but somehow not so hot as to be unattainable to the main guy; she is that exact, archetypal girl next door. This was the kind of casting that only happens when the stars align perfectly. I'm calling it now, you will be seeing a lot more of Ms. Navarrette in the future regardless of whether she can ever pull off another role as memorable as Nikki. She certainly gave it her all, and it translated exceptionally into a career-making/defining performance.

Honestly, Inde looks more like the character than the actual actress in the movie.

The other major aspect blowing people away is the peanut budget and how much was accomplished despite this. My man, Curry Barker, I tip my hat to you. "Obsession" looks solid, as if it has a budget 20x what it was. The lighting alone is praiseworthy--with special attention toward the use of shadows. The way Nikki's eyes are made to glow demonically when she first shows up at Bear's house was awesome. Of course, the best scene in the movie is when Nikki watches Bear sleep. This is an outright masterclass in effective lighting creating the horror for you. Mr. Barker lets the shadows warp the imagination of the audience into creating their own scares. Now, the movie as a whole has solid production value, but the lighting is on a whole different level which is why I highlight it heavily.

Another piece of the puzzle is the way that so much of the story is left up to the audience. We already know there will be sequels, but I hope the supernatural elements presented here are not demystified. I've watched many videos and read numerous reviews full of speculation and interpretations regarding the characters and events of "Obsession." Is Nikki possessed? Who was the guy on the phone? This vagueness helps the story tremendously. I'd advise Mr. Barker to stop making any comments since the audience is interpreting the art in different ways. This is a huge plus. Let the audience wonder...it creates more interest and engagement with the material! This public conversation is another reason why this movie exploded in popularity; never underestimate the power of word of mouth.

Now for the downside. Is "Obsession" overrated? Yes...to a degree. Every bit of praise I've thrown at this film is earned, however, this is a derivative work and not original in the slightest. First, I'd consider the idea of 'be-careful-what-you-wish-for' as a sub-genre of horror. Second, wishing for love is yet another layer deeper within this sub-genre. My first reaction to this movie was it's an edgier version of "Loved to Death" which is an episode of "Tales from the Crypt." That episode is strikingly similar to "Obsession," which, in turn, was the '90s attempt at being an edgier version of "The Chaser," an episode of "The Twilight Zone." Likewise, Mr. Barker explaining he drew inspiration from "The Simpsons" parody of "The Monkey's Paw" is a bizarre admittance unto itself. The inspirations for "Obsession" are palpable which does hurt it ever so slightly. However, an important distinction I want to acknowledge is the execution of these inspirations. "Obsession" is the best version of the love wish as a concept.

Overall, this is low-budget horror at its finest! Whether you end up thinking "Obsession" is overrated or the best horror movie ever, one cannot deny this is a landmark film that will be discussed for years to come. "Obsession" has broken all kinds of records, becoming a huge financial hit as well, ensuring that the wannabes are probably being put into production at this very moment. This movie is scary, thought-provoking, and oozes atmosphere. Nikki is going to be one of this generation's big icons--maybe only alongside Art the Clown. I do accept the derivative nature of the story can weaken things, but "Obsession" takes material that's be done before and perfects it for a fraction of the budget. I'm excited to see what comes next from the writer/director and Ms. Navarrette.

Notable Moment: There are a ton of standout moments, but the bedroom sequence with Nikki in the shadows is downright terrifying. Besides the fact that the entire setup is creepy as hell, the way the shadows create this monstrous look to her appearance is amazing. Then the flowerpot moment builds so much tension and screws with your imagination, heightening the anticipation. That's our Freaky Nikki! What a scene!

Final Rating: 7.5/10