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 

Godzilla Minus One Review

Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!

Plot Summary: Following Japan's surrender in WWII, an angry Godzilla arises to threaten what is left of the wary, Japanese survivors.

Review: I idiotically slept on this film at first, but I would rank this as a contender for best movie of the 2020s. Yes, it's that good! There are supposedly 38 Godzilla movies--of these, I've probably watched more than half and mostly all the pre-2000s entries; sure, they're entertaining enough films in a cheesy-fun way. So, when word had spread about how "Godzilla Minus One" was putting Hollywood to shame, I had to see it for myself. Low and behold, not only did this film live up to my expectations, but it raised the bar of how to create a blockbuster action movie for a significantly smaller budget. It's to the point that I've heard many people use this as a metric when comparing bloated Hollywood slop...saying things like, "You could have made 5 'Godzilla Minus Ones' for that money." Truly, this is a game-changer to say the least.

First off, there are different ways to watch this: dubbed or subbed. In color or no color? I hate to sound like a pretentious critic, but the optimal viewing is subtitled and in black and white. The sets and props just look more authentic in this manner, and, outside of some shoddy CGI, this could easily pass for an old film under these conditions. While we are on the subject, the post-WWII aesthetic looks awesome and true to life. I'm in disbelief sometimes at how impressive everything looks for the budget especially when factoring in the many, large set pieces when going up against Godzilla. The Academy Award win was most certainly earned; should have been nominated for more though.

But the true aspect that allows this film to shine is the story and its characters. The actors do a commendable job as people struggling to get back on their feet just as Godzilla shows up to pull the rug right out from under them. This is a classic story of people coming together against overwhelming odds and combining their abilities in order to succeed. That kind of heroism and determination is something sorely lacking in most stories these days. More so, that triumphant feeling of victory by the end is palpable--a crowd-pleaser without a doubt. I also want to acknowledge the ballsy death of Noriko (we'll get back to her). On the first viewing, I was completely shocked, and this moment marked a major turning point for the story and characters. That's how you build stakes! 

As for the big boy himself, Godzilla is an absolute menace! Continuity is all over the place with this franchise, however, Godzilla has spent more times as a defender of Earth than not by my estimate. Here, Godzilla is back to his original form of being a pure monster of chaos, wreaking havoc at every step. Hell, his eyes make him look nuts half the time especially when he first attacks the makeshift mine-sweepers. He has the iconic roar, the atomic breath is city-destroying, his regenerative abilities are Wolverine-esque, and he simply plows his way through anything with almost complete hate. Establishing Godzilla at this level ups the tension since the audience cannot possibly imagine the characters having the means to take him down. Of course, this only heightens how adrenaline-pumping and awesome it is when the big boy does finally go down...for now, at least.

Now, while I do love this movie, I have to admit it has a couple of glaring flaws that stop it from being a 10/10. Getting back to Noriko...just let her be dead. Yes, a happy ending is great, but her death was startling and it takes away from the impact to say she survived. Sure, Godzilla skin or something has passed on the regeneration to her or whatever...but did we need that? Godzilla regenerating his body was already sequel-bait enough for an ending. By the way, Noriko's actress, Minami Hamabe, is cute, but, man, oh man, does she look better in the 1940's fashion and styling. Anyway, the other aspect that hurts is the initial CGI on--what I'll call--baby Godzilla. I know, I know, I'm both praising the effects for a low-budget movie while also bitching about it! But baby Godzilla legitimately looks like shit. I actually don't like this entire scene in the first place. 

Other than these tiny grievances, which I'm sure others will see as nitpicking, "Godzilla Minus One" is on point in every conceivable aspect to film-making. From the cinematography to the set designs, and everything in between, "Godzilla Minus One" delivers and then some. Considering the direction these films have been going for years, it was actually a welcomed surprise anyone would want to reset the whole franchise AND it manages to turn out this remarkable to boot! The gauntlet has been thrown: Hollywood responded to Japan's mishandling of Godzilla, and Japan responded accordingly. Will the Americanized Godzilla be able to keep up? Regardless, check this movie out in any shape or form of your choosing--you will NOT be disappointed! Now, we will have to see if "Godzilla Minus Zero" can deliver following in this colossal shadow.

Notable Moment: There are numerous standout moments, but when the Godzilla theme kicks in during the final fight you know things are about to get serious. You can't help but smile as the events unfold.

Final Rating: 8/10