Ahh! Jr. Miley Knapp jumps out of the theater chair, terrified of what just happened. Her heart is racing as she looks around the room scanning for danger. What’s going on?! Did someone break in? No, just a jump scare from one of the latest horror movies.
In the Tall Grass
The idea seems interesting. Two people drive past a corn maze and hear a child crying for help. They step inside only to be met with an experience that could never be forgotten. However, despite the promising start, In the Tall Grass is an example of a poorly made horror film. The movie tried and failed to have plot twists, and ended up just a mess. As the movie went on the plot only became increasingly confusing. Characters that were dead suddenly come back to life for no apparent reason. At one point they even end up in a random building instead of the maze somehow. The moment the film makes sense, something changes. The characters do not have much depth or development and neither does the nearly non-existent plot.
Rating: 1/5
Smile 2
The most terrifying movie of the year? People on social media seem to think so. “I was scared to leave the theater” “I’ve never been more scared in my life” some TikTok videos say. The new movie is a sequel to the first Smile, but the plot is new and fresh. This time, a pop star is infected with a demon causing her to have horrifying hallucinations. The movie is packed with jump scares and suspense. The plot is okay, a good idea but predictable and confusing at the same time. They have so many plot twists that it’s hard to tell what actually happened, but the ending is predictable. The acting is amazing, and Naomi Scott does a great job as the lead. Not scary besides the jump scares but still worth a watch as overall Smile 2 is well-made and entertaining.
Rating: 3.5/5
Midsommar
Midsommar is a well-known cultish horror film. The plot follows a girl on a trip to Sweden to a town that soon turns out to be hiding some crazy secrets. The movie has a specific aesthetic and the cinematography is beautiful as well as having great acting. The movie is weird and disturbing in a way that some people may love but could cause others to be freaked out and disgusted. With weird rituals and twists, Midsommar is a unique and memorable movie, but probably one to only watch once. While watching there is no way to know what may happen next and there are many shocking moments and lots of suspense.
Rating: 3/5
Us
Directed and written by Jordan Peele, Us is an incredibly well-crafted movie. Four masked strangers show up at a family’s house, but they soon find out they aren’t strangers at all. With an engaging and unique plot, Us is one of the best options out there. Each scene is detailed and meaningful and the ending has a major plot twist. This one can be watched many times, and new details are noticed each time. It’s a creative concept that is well-executed and memorable. Not too many jump scares but will have the watcher on the edge of their seat.
Rating: 5/5
A Quiet Place
A Quiet Place is now a trilogy and each movie has its faults and highlights, but the review focuses on the original. An alien invasion lands in America, killing many people and leaving the country in shambles. The aliens have one major weakness, though, they can’t see. To make up for their lack of sight, they have incredible hearing. A Quiet Place follows a family of four who try to survive and avoid these monsters. One of the children is deaf, so they can speak using sign language which adds an interesting twist. Some of the scenes are also completely silent which adds a cool perspective.
Rating: 4/5
