STACK #161 Mar 2018

CINEMA REVIEWS

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RELEASED: Feb 8 DIRECTOR: Adam Robitel CAST: Lin Shaye, Leigh Whannell, Angus Sampson, Kirk Acevedo RATING: M The fourth chapter in the horror franchise puts psychic Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye) front and centre in what amounts to an ‘origin story’ as to how she became the one to call when you’ve got ghosts. Set just prior to the events of the first film, Elise is drawn back to her hometown of Five Keys in New Mexico, where an entity she summoned as a child is still haunting the family home, and the new owner wants rid of it. Together with ghost hunters Specs (Leigh Whannell) and Tucker (Angus Sampson) providing the comic relief, Elise uncovers more than just a haunting and must confront the demons of her past, along with her estranged brother. The Last Key ‘s focus on Shaye’s character is a plus after a couple of lacklustre sequels. The veteran actress brings conviction to a role – and dialogue – that would otherwise be as hokey as some of the rote scares on offer. After so many memorable supporting parts, it’s great to see her land a lead at 75. Unfortunately, director Adam Robitel doesn’t conjure up the same sense of creepiness he displayed with the found-footage horror The Taking of Deborah Logan . He’s content to stick to the interchangeable template of over-the-shoulder apparitions and dark basements wreathed in dry ice that has become de rigueur for supernatural horror. Insidious: The Last Key is unlikely to be the last film in the franchise, and while it is an improvement on previous entries, it’s the kind of film where you’re waiting for the horror to really kick in and the end credits begin to roll. Scott Hocking INSIDIOUS: THE LAST KEY WINCHESTER RELEASED: Feb 22 DIRECTOR: The Spierig Brothers CAST: Helen Mirren, Jason Clarke, Sarah Snook, Angus Sampson RATING: M The most novel thing about Winchester is that it’s Dame Helen Mirren’s first horror film. As Sarah Winchester, the heiress to the Winchester firearms company, Mirren brings a touch of class to this otherwise creaky ghost story “inspired by actual events”. This grieving widow claims to be haunted by the restless spirits of those killed by the Winchester repeating rifle, and has constructed a labyrinthine house of seven stories and hundreds of rooms to accommodate the spectral multitude. The company board are naturally concerned that she may not be of sound mind, and despatch Dr. Eric Price (Jason Clarke) to perform a psychological assessment. Price, whose haunted past has spawned its own ghosts, as well as a laudanum addiction, begins seeing things as soon as he sets foot in the Winchester House. And before long, all hell breaks loose with the arrival of a vengeful spirit. Ghost stories are always more effective when they’re period pieces, and what Winchester gets right is favouring gloomy atmosphere and other gothic tropes over formulaic jump scares. What’s disappointing is the missed opportunity of properly exploring the architectural monstrosity that is the Winchester House – a piece of unreal estate to rival the Overlook Hotel and Hill House. There’s never a sense of getting lost in this malevolent maze. Winchester is a great tourism booster for the real Winchester Mystery House in California, but as a supernatural horror film it’s mostly firing blanks. Scott Hocking

RELEASED: Feb 15 DIRECTOR: Ryan Coogler CAST: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o RATING: M

BLACK PANTHER

Remember who you are.

I t’s quite possible that Black Panther could not succeed in the way that it does without the guidance of Ryan Coogler. His unique vision lends itself perfectly to the comic character’s tale of responsibility not only to his homeland of Wakanda and its people, but also to himself. When we last encountered T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), his father T’Chaka had just been assassinated by Baron Zemo, leaving T’Challa with not only the mantle of protector Black Panther, but also King of Wakanda. At the end of Captain America: Civil War , he returns home to his African nation – with James “Bucky” Barnes (Sebastian Stan) – to take up his new role as ruler. T’Challa reunites with his mother (Angela Bassett) and sister, Shuri (Letitia Wright), who also happens to spearhead the technical developments of the Wakandan nation. Wakanda (as we learned in Avengers: Age of Ultron ) is home to the world’s supply of Vibranium – a ‘vibration absorbing’ element and the

and her tribe of elite fighter Dora – all sworn to protect the throne. However, when word hits that Ulysses Klau (Andy Serkis) – the only man ever to have broken into Wakanda – is again on the hunt for Vibranium, the tribes and their warriors must band together to protect the secrecy of the nation. The strength of Black Panther lies in its character building. T’Challa’s reliance on his family and his pride (sorry) are some of his most important traits as King, but the position of power tests his bonds. The women carry this film – particularly Okoye and T’Challa’s romantic interest, Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) – assisting the Black Panther to decide what is right. Wakanda itself is beautifully crafted, with the futuristic tech and the African- inspired costumes building an immaculate world in which to spend a few hours. Black Panther is a celebration of culture and colour at a time when perhaps the world needs it most. Danai Gurira is an easy standout as an inspiring, driven

RATING KEY: Wow! Good Not bad Meh Woof!

champion, and without giving away too much about his role,

Michael B. Jordan clearly revels in reuniting with his Creed director, Coogler. Stellar performances from the entire cast and a killer backing track makes this one of the most important, if not necessarily the most action-packed, Marvel films to date. Alesha Kolbe

strongest metal on Earth. As such, the Wakandan tribes have made use of the element to improve their advanced technology, all the while hiding themselves from the outside world. Wakanda is protected by the

warrior Okoye (Danai Gurira)

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