Fantastic Four

An entertaining Marvel romp with a unique visual flare.

I wanted to hate Fantastic Four. It’s the third revamp of these superheroes, and I’m growing weary of movies that reek of film executives in a boardroom discussing the easiest possible path to half a billion (of note is that it looks like the film will fail to hit half a billion at the box office).

I actually enjoyed this one though. It had just enough visual uniqueness to keep me engaged. It’s set in some sort of retro-futuristic alternate universe, which allows the movie’s visual effects artists to have some fun. It’s also convenient for keeping the narrative separated from the other Marvel superheroes (thankfully). The movie is all the better for being a standalone.

I’ve read some banter online of Pedro Pascal fatigue (because he seems to be everywhere). Here’s my take. He’s an excellent actor, and I thought his performance as Reed Richards (Mister Fanastic) was a highlight of the movie. I also thought he was the only reason to keep watching Max’s show, The Last of Us. And he was a highlight in the Nic Cage meta film, Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. So I can only conclude that he’s simply a great actor who gets a lot of roles because he’s talented. No problem there.

Narratively, the movie was a bit overstuffed. It’s tough to feel much emotionally for four superheroes in a film that’s going to be heavy on special effects and spectacle. Something has to give. I left the theater thinking that I liked all of the characters, but only got glimpses of each of them. Hey, it’s a Marvel film. What can you expect?

That almost made me wonder if the project would’ve been better as a television series. It seemed as though a lot was left on the cutting room floor, and there was obviously a lot more in this universe to explore. A series arc would’ve really given us a sense of what makes these superheroes tick.

But hey, at the end of the day, it’s a movie about a stretchy guy and an alien that eats planets. It isn’t meant for high art. And as such it’s a perfectly fine afternoon diversion.

6/10

Heretic

Heretic is the most original religious horror film in recent memory.

One could also classify it as psychological thriller or suspense. I would argue the film is beyond classifying. I refused any spoilers before seeing it in theaters and I’m glad for that. I’ll avoid writing spoilers here.

Two Mormon missionaries, played brilliantly by Chloe East and Sophie Thatcher, are invited into the home of Mr. Reed, a stranger apparently interested in the Book of Mormon, but with secretive plans for them (plans that do not involve them leaving). They enter the house despite not seeing a Mrs. Reed; a woman needs to be present for them to go inside, they tell Mr. Reed. “She’s in the kitchen baking blueberry pie,” he insists, and they fall for the lie.

Hugh Grant plays off-type as Mr. Reed and is perfect for the role. His charming smile and pleasant demeanor give him an air of harmlessness that this type of villain requires.

Grant deserves an Oscar for this one. He’s both captivating and abhorrent, two qualities the role requires, and he chews every line of dialogue with expertise. You simultaneously want to listen to more of his philosophy and see him brought to justice.

I won’t ruin what happens other than to say that I didn’t expect any of the ensuing twists and turns. Horror films are often victim of a weak third act, but this film’s finale will have people talking for awhile.

Unlike other horror films centered around a victim in captivity like Saw, I appreciated that this one has protagonists who are worthy intellectual adversaries to the villain. I don’t enjoy horror where the villain seems to constantly have the upper-hand, so much so that every other character is nothing more than a pawn on his board to be easily knocked off. This one is more a game of cat-and-mouse in which both sides are deeply challenged.

The violence is also more purposeful than most R-rated horror films. I’ve written before that I don’t like violence for the sake of violence. This film selects its violent scenes carefully, so that they enhance the theme of the film.

Best horror film of the year in this blogger’s opinion. 10/10