J*A*S*M

A rather unexciting rural psychological drama with a hint of thriller, whose main drawback is that the resolution of the mystery is exactly what a seasoned viewer would think of at the tenth minute at the latest. The rest of the film is then marked by waiting to see whether it will somehow escalate the genre or not. Well, it didn't. The setting is nice, the acting is pleasantly grounded, but it has nothing tangible for me to enjoy as a viewer.

I don't think so this time. The "Deadpool" stuff (the R-rating, the fourth wall breaking, the meta commentary) still worked decently, but unfortunately there is at least as much "Marvel" stuff. The aimless layering of attractions, which for me as someone who doesn't have a vivid memory of all those comic-book films, was almost mind-numbing. I probably never saw half of the cameo roles, and I don't remember a quarter of the characters, and I didn't recognize a quarter of them at first given how they’ve aged. I'm really not happy that we've clearly entered an era where to fully enjoy a new movie, you need to know not only the Marvel movies, but also the Marvel TV series, the X-men universe, the Fantastic Four, and other Disney acquisitions. The bad thing is that I don't see any more ways to get any audience enjoyment out of this, it's pure fanservice. The plot is the classic overwrought Marvel nonsense of recent times where the bad guy wants to destroy worlds because why not. Most of the story takes place in yet another new space we've never seen before, and it's all governed by rules that are pulled out of think air and always told a minute before they're acted upon. 5/10 and I regret not going to see Twisters instead.

Ti West once again convincingly fetishizes the horror subgenre of yesteryear, unfortunately this time I have a bit of a problem with it, because this particular slice of horror (80s trash set in the streets of a big city) is not one of my favorites. I guess subjectively I would have much preferred if MaXXXine had a more prominent role for the giallo elements that it is partly based on. I can tolerate a sleazy thriller with a charmingly demented satanic panic twist, but it won't become my favourite. And even though it's pleasantly refreshing in specific moments, uncompromising and, for all its stupidity, nicely contrived, the various motifs fit together meaningfully.