MARIAH's THOUGHTS on Look Away (2018)

Genre:

Psychological Thriller/Horror

Rating:

TV - MA

Release Date:

October 12, 2018

Run Time:

1 hour 43 min

Directed and Screenplay by:

Assaf Bernstein

Distributed by:

Vertical Entertainment

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Plot Synopsis:

Look Away is a new psychological thriller starring India Eisley, Mira Sorvino and Jason Isaacs. Written and directed by Assaf Bernstein, the films tells the story of Maria (Eisley), a shy 18-year-old high schooler who feels utterly alienated by her parents and outcast by her peers. Lonely and insecure, she opens up to her reflection in the mirror, only to discover that the reflection has a mind of her own.

As Maria’s isolation worsens at home and at school, her relationship with her alter-ego in the mirror intensifies. She switches place with the twin in the mirror and experiences freedom and confidence for the first time.

But this newfound freedom unleashes suppressed feelings, and violence erupts. Will Maria be able to return to her true self? Or has she just discovered who she really is?

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Cast:

India Eisley, Jason Isaacs, Mira Sorvino, Penelope Mitchell, John C. MacDonald, Harrison Gilbertson

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**My Thoughts**

Note: This review contains SPOILERS

Chilling, haunting, and slow paced, I would say Look Away is an underrated psychological thriller. Look Away is a film about a life where 18-year-old high schooler, Maria, has all the resources she needs to live a comfortable life, but having it doesn’t necessarily mean she is happy. The film introduces an overused trope for the main character. Maria is clumsy, bullied, and overall ostracized for her meek personality. She is beautiful but lacks the confidence needed to express or defend herself. The overall setting takes place during winter in Maria’s hometown. It’s gloomy, cold, and creates a superficial mood that says, “everything is just fine.” It has a pristine appeal to it and all it takes is one mishap to change everything.

During Look Away, Maria finds a sonogram of twins tucked into her vanity mirror, but Maria does not have a twin or sibling in the film. This acts as a foreshadow of Maria’s reflection, who calls herself Airam, coming to life. Maria is later pushed over the edge and humiliated during the winter dance, wherein she is dragged across the ice while everyone else points and laughs. This acts as the catalyst to Maria finding solace in Airam and by some method, either magical or psychological, they switch places. It takes a mentally ill teenager to creepy and murderous extremes. While unleashing your opposite half or deepest desires is an interesting concept to venture into, unfortunately Look Away didn’t offer anything new, but it makes you wonder what would happen if people always acted on their most real or deepest thoughts. By the end of the film the viewer can understand that Airam is simply Maria. After every piece of Airam’s revenge is completed, Maria does not respond when Airam looks into the mirror one last time. In a sense, Maria’s family is complete with the presence of Maria and Airam or Maria herself is complete by accepting Airam. While Look Away may not add anything new to the psychological thrillers, it is oddly satisfying to watch.

My rating:

JASMINE's THOUGHTS on Extinction (2015)

Genre:

Horror, Science Fiction

Rating:

R

Run Time:

1 hr 53 mins

Release Date:

July 31, 2015

Distributor:

Vertical Entertainment

Directed by:

Miguel Ángel Vivas

Based on the novel by:

Juan de Dios Garduno

(Y Pese a Todo...)

Plot Summary:

Nine years after an infection turns most of humanity into rabid creatures, Patrick, Jack and Lu, live in peace until the infected appear again. Patrick and Jack must put the past behind them to protect the one being that means the most to them.

Cast:

Matthew Fox, Jeffrey Donovan, Quinn McColgan, Valeria Vereau, Clara Lago

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*My Thoughts*

Note: This review contains NO spoilers

To join this trend of post-apocalyptic films with zombies, Extinction a film that is based on the novel by Juan de Dios Garduno titled Y Pese a Todo..., loosely translated in English as And Despite Everything, which incorporated the elements of nature, horror, and a little drama. However, I found the film to be lacking in character development and world building.

The film begins with a brief introduction of the main characters and the reason for their isolation nine years later. However, it was lacking in describing how the world got to its current state. Yes, we got rabid and vicious people attacking/infecting others, but this "ice age"?!? Where's the explanation to that? The few flashbacks that were incorporated into the film did further explain..a bit... regarding the relationship among the three... Patrick, Jack and Lu. The realism of the characters and their relationships just didn't come through for me. The acting just seemed stiff...

It is apparent that after nine years the infected adapted to their cold environment. The film has the familiar theme with 28 Days Later film. When survivors adapted to their cold environment, so did the infected... and how they adapted turned out to be hideous and horrific. The element of horror was definitely present with the "jump in your face" scary... very few, but it was there.

All in all, it was a somewhat enjoyable film that intertwined horror and drama. There was just enough of these elements to tie together the storyline.

My rating: