Longlegs. Film Review

 I went into this one knowing very little about its story, having avoided teasers/trailers and reviews. I was aware of 'early bird' comparisons with Silence of The Lambs via social media posts, and that Longlegs had been labelled '"he scariest film of the decade".  Did I find it scary? No. The only film that really scared me was my first viewing of The Exorcist which was shown on a double bill with Exorcist II at a local cinema. This was at the age of 17 when I had already seen a good number of films on the big screen. However, I did find Longlegs to be enormously unsettling, with a feeling of dread inhabiting every minute of the running time.

FBI agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe) is assigned to a case known as 'The Birthday Murders' and her tense, nervy character can be related to subconscious suppression of childhood memories. Harker possesses unreliable psychic abilities; an 'asset' that's all the more chilling when we realise just where her powers came from. Monroe delivers a terrific performance here, as does Nicholas Cage as a facially scarred instrument of pure evil.

The cinematography by Andres Arochi Tinajero is exceptional, working in tandem with a soundscape that's never less than completely unnerving.Together, they fully succeed in getting right under the skin and staying there. Director Osgood Perkins installed several moments of dark humour into this film, but at the 2 screenings I attended, not a single person laughed. Maybe we had temporarily forgotten how?

I will not go into any plot details for the benefit of those who can't get to a cinema and are awaiting a physical media release or streaming. What I will say is that Longlegs is certainly worthy of your most earnest attention and that multiple viewings are required to plumb its hidden depths and to better appreciate just what am achievement this is.

The Crazy Family. Film Review. At Derby Quad Cinema.

 A true black as crude comedy gem made in 1984 by Japanese director Sogo Ishii, The Crazy Family follows a seemingly close knit family as they settle into their new suburban home.

At first we see a harmonious unit at peace, but things change quickly as Katsukuni starts to believe spouse and siblings are subject to a creeping sickness that he fears will destroy everything.

For the first two acts, Ishii injects side-splitting humour into proceedings: along with the uproarious The Trouble With Jessica, it delivered the most laughs I've had so far this year at the cinema, but things do get dark (extremely dark) during the last third of this film: the hilarious sequence where Katsukumi digs deep below the floor to construct a basement for his recently arrived father is absolutely side-splitting, constantly complaining about ants  as he maniacally lays waste to their dream house.

The introduction of grandad - good humoured stock characterisation at first - eventually turns into something else entirely. In fact, there is one truly disturbing scene to endure, and seconds after, two members of the audience left: may have been a case of 'last bus syndrome' but I think not. Those of you who have seen this film will know exactly what I'm referring to.

The Crazy Family is imbued with true Punk spirit; not least with its delightfully kinetic soundtrack and breakneck visuals.

Derby's wonderful Quad cinema was one of just 4 UK venues to play host to this film, as explained during an introduction by one of our excellent local film historians, Peter Mumford. The Crazy Family was a part of Quad's Satori Screen offerings which take place on a monthly basis.

In June 2024, the superb label Third Window Films will release The Crazy Family on blu-ray here in the UK.