Better Late Than Never on "The VVitch"

As I said yesterday, I like to catch up on scary movies that I may have missed during the month of October. I told you all about my push to watch all of Ari Aster's movies, so that was why I finally got around to seeing "Hereditary". Well, similar to my need to complete a small filmography of a director I like, I decided that I wanted to complete all of Robert Eggers work to this point, and that meant I had to watch "The VVitch".

I have seen his other movies and really enjoyed them all. I thought he did great work on "Nosferatu". "The Northman" is one of the most badass movies I've ever watched. And I truly adore the madness of "the Lighthouse". That left me with "The VVitch". It seems that I tend to miss these young directors' first major movies when they are in the theaters. But with so many streaming services, it was easy to remedy this self imposed issue. 

First off, what I appreciated most about this movie was the runtime, "The VVitch" clocks in at 90 minutes. I'm not opposed to a longer movie as long as it keeps my attention. But if I see a runtime like this, my mood is instantly better. Ninety minutes is totally doable in one sitting, especially with my kids back in school. Right off the bat, I loved the look of this movie. What impresses me most about Eggers to this point is how true he tries to stay to the time period of which his movies take place. This movie takes place in 1630 and it focuses on a Puritan family forced to leave their home. They then run into some wild stuff revolving around a witch and their new home and I was here for all of it. Anya Taylor Joy is the main character in this movie. She plays Thomasin and I believe this was her first big starring role. You can tell she had stardom quality right away. I bought every moment of her character. From being put upon and unloved at the beginning, to posing as a witch to scare her siblings and then her final transformation, she did an excellent job in this role. She was never over the top or cringey at all. She talked the talk and held her own with some other stars. Speaking of another star she worked with in this movie, Ralph Ineson plays the father. He is meek and weak willed. He has his family's best interest, and his love for God, at the forefront. But he is no good at anything else besides chopping wood. He is a poor hunter. He is a poor provider. He never really stands up for himself, and when he does try, it is met with harsh resistance. Kate Dickie plays the mom and she nails the torment and grief that comes with all she had to endure in this movie. Kids get kidnapped and possessed and Dickie shows that grief to near perfection. I didn't know much about her going into this movie, but she was so magnetic and I could not take my eyes off of her. I also disliked and liked and agreed with her at various points of the movie. To me that is the sign that an actor really nailed the role. The other kids in the movie did good work, especially the brother who gets possessed by the witch, but this is truly a three person performance. All of us who watched this wanted to see it for one of the three main characters I have to assume.

As for the setting, like I said above, it was wild to see a modern movie transform me into 1630 Puritan times. Wherever they shot it was a perfect spot. I felt desolate and isolated while watching. Seeing the crops not grow had me worried, especially because it looked as if cold weather was coming. The interior of the house is exactly what I imagined it would look like back then. From eating dinner by candlelight, to the forest, to the outside of the house, it is just as I have always envisioned it would be to live back then. And the animals they got to work in this movie were great as well. The bunny was scary as hell. The hunting dog was excellent. But it was the black goat, Black Phillip in the movie, that took the cake. That goat was horrifying and mean. I read that it was a little harder to train, and that shows. Apparently the goat and Ralph Ineson had run-ins, which makes the climatic scene all the better.

After sitting with this movie for a few days, I think it is only second to "The Lighthouse" for my fondness of Eggers work. He really did something special in his first go round, much like Aster did with "Hereditary". And you may say that this movie doesn't sound all that creepy, but don't be mistaken. This is an eerie and deeply upsetting movie. While it doesn't have jumpscares, this is still very scary, in its understatement and tone.  I recommend "the VVitch" wholeheartedly. It is a solid creepy season watch. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Furiosa"

My wife and I saw "Furiosa" over the weekend. Let’s discuss.

This was a movie I was going to the theater to see no matter what. I have been looking forward to it since it was announced. Look, "Fury Road" may be the greatest action movie ever made. I think it is. It is full throttle, non stop action, and that is what I love about it. And it is not a "Fast and Furious" movie. Those have their place, but the whole "Mad Max" series has created a sci-fi world that absolutely fascinates me. It is the type of dystopic future movie that I am inclined to watch over and over again. And I have. I've seen the other "Mad Max" movies multiple times, with "Fury Road" leading the way, with at least a dozen viewings. So, giving me the backstory of Furiosa, Charlize Theron's character in "Fury Road", is all I want in a summer action blockbuster. We went out the day after it opened, we were in a relatively empty theater, and we sat back and watched.

My wife was not into the movie. These movies aren't for her. She likes her action movies to be superhero driven. But, I appreciate her wanting to go out and watch a movie series with me that I adore.

I loved this movie. Now, it is not on "Fury Road" level. That is a masterpiece. If "Furiosa" got to the level of "Fury Road", I don't think I'd have to watch any other action movie ever. But "Furiosa" has a place in my heart. I knew going in that this movie was going to be more of a story. George Miller told us that much during his interviews. And he and his crew told a great story. I loved getting to see where Furiosa came from and how she ended up where she did. Seeing her home, The Green Place, at its height, was pretty cool. It was also brutal because those of us that have seen "Fury Road" know the demise of The Green Place. And even in a movie that is more of a slow burn, we get a pretty dope chase scene right after Furiosa is captured. And the action sequences continue throughout the movie. There is a non-stop 15 minute action scene on a war rig that is one of the best things I've ever watched on any medium. It is a damn work of art. I also liked that we got to see Immortan Joe before he takes everything over. He is still evil as hell. We get to see The Bullet Farm and Gas Town before it all gets blown to hell. We see how some alliances started, and how some broke apart. We get to see early versions of the War Boys. We see the wasteland that has been created in this world. And it is bleak.

The performances in this movie are incredible. They bring back some of the people from the original movies. The actor who played Immortan Joe originally has since passed away, but his replacement did a damn fine job. The mothers in The Green Place are protective and totally badass. The first driver of the war rig may be one of the few people I have rooted for in this series. And then we have Anya Taylor Joy and Chris Hemsworth. Hemsworth is endlessly watchable as the main villain. He has no redeeming qualities. He is evil through and through. And I couldn't get enough of his work here. He really went for it and he definitely nailed it. I want to see him do more roles like this because he was truly foul and truly amazing here. Anya Taylor Joy did more than just justice to Theron's work. Joy embodied Furiosa. I read that she had to do a bunch of acting with only her eyes, she does not have a bunch of lines in the movie, and she hit a damn homerun with her eye acting. I know her story, yet I was endlessly surprised by what I was seeing. The final scene between her and Hemsworth is one of the best things I've ever watched. Joy was magnificent.

I loved "Furiosa". While speaking with a family member who also saw the movie on opening weekend, he said that, while not on the level of "Fury Road", he gave it an 11/10, he gave "Furiosa" an 8/10. I think that is fair. I'd probably go 8.5 or 9/10, but that is me. "Furiosa" is an achievement. I recommend this movie wholeheartedly. It will be on my best of 2024 list. I can already tell. Go see it now. I plan on going a few more times to see it in the theaters. Maybe I'll see you there. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "The Menu"

Over the weekend my wife and I watched "The Menu". I went into the movie not knowing anything, purposely, and that is the best way to watch.I will do my best to keep my review spoiler free.

The plot of the movie is rather simple. There is a restaurant on a secluded island and only the select few get in. I believe there were a total of twelve diners at the restaurant in the movie. The chef is devious, does some messed up stuff and makes the diners watch it all unfold. There is mystery, intrigue and even some good laughs. The movie is also scary at times. I found myself jumping here and there at certain points. The scares are not out of place either. They are not shoehorned in to frighten the viewer. They were necessary and crucial to the plot.

I really adored this movie. Being three days removed from watching it, I find myself still thinking about what I saw. I have also read a number of reviews and theories online since finishing the movie. The writer is stellar. As I mentioned, there are jokes in this movie that made me laugh out loud. I did not expect that from this film. There are also well made points about the fine dining world and how unnecessary that whole crowd has become. The acting was top notch as well. Anya Taylor Joy is becoming one of my favorite actors. She is excellent here. Her attitude and the way she carries herself was wonderful. Nicolas Hoult played off type, for him, in this movie. He is an asshole. He is one of these "foodies" who thinks he knows better than everyone else. Even the actors with bit parts, Judith Light and John Leguizamo to name a few, crush the scenes they are in. With this movie, and "Encanto", Leguizamo is having a real moment, and I'm here for it. But Ralph Fiennes is superb. He is so eerie, so emotionless, so scary. It is such a great role for him and he absolutely crushes it. My wife even said she thought this was right up there with Lord Voldemort as far as creepiness goes for Fiennes. He even gets off jokes and they absolutely land.

What I love most about this movie, what I keep going back to, is the way they send up the highfalutin restaurant world. This restaurant is on a secluded island that you have to take a yacht to get too. Sp pretentious. The cover to get in is astronomical. I believe Hoult's character says "1250 a person". That is nuts. The way the sous chefs all act is so ridiculous and cultish. I love a show like "The Bear", but even that takes itself too seriously with the food at times. "The Menu" is, for all intents and purposes, spoofing that world. They are making fun of that world. They are poking a hole in the theory that fine dining has become this show of fulfillment and how rich or poor you are. The lady who plays the restaurant reviewer is so perfectly skewered by Fiennes' chef. Her lackey is what I imagine all lackeys are like in real life. Hoult is as douchey as these upper crust "foodies" can be. He is always pooping out his phone to take pictures and then explaining why this food is so next level. Even Judith Light and her husband are awful. They are considered "regulars" here, but they cannot even remember dishes from previous meals. They continue to go to show off their status. It is too perfect.

I like this movie. I enjoy how scary and funny it can be at times. I thought they paid excellent detail to this renaissance in fancy dinner culture. They skewer it better than anyone has to this point. I have been watching a ton of "Top Chef" lately, and when I watched this movie I thought of how Padma Lakshmi and Tom Colicheccio would have acted if this place were real. It would be hilarious. Watch this movie. It is on HBO Max right now. I cannot recommend it enough. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "The Northman"

My wife is out of town for work and when she leaves I tend to watch movies that she is not interested in when we do date night. I've seen some solid and not so solid movies during these work trips. I've also seen "Titane", and I'm still confused by it. Last night I watched "The Northman".

I've wanted to see this for quite some time. My dad is really into viking culture lately, the preview looked badass, I like Alexander Skarsgard and I have enjoyed every Robert Eggers directed movie I have seen, especially "The Lighthouse". I had high hopes going into this movie.

“The Northman” did not disappoint. Sure it was a bit too long and some stuff could have been cut out, but for the most part, this movie was very, very well made. I am not as into the viking stuff as my dad, but I do like the stories I have been told. I am also kind of enamored with their lifestyle back in the early 1000's. It is all intriguing to me. This movie, from what I've read and watched, has to be one of the more accurate portrayals of life back then. It was brutal. It looked old. It looked archaic. Eggers and the writers did not sugarcoat the awfulness that some vikings lived with. There was pillaging and murdering and assaults happening left and right. I appreciate the fact that they put it out there bare bones. I do not like when other movie makers glorify and deify these people. They were not the best. There is one battle scene in particular, right in the first 45 minutes, that is one of the best and most brutal things I have ever watched. This group of vikings pillages a town during the day. At one point a person throws a spear at Skarsgard's character, he catches it and throws it back, impaling someone else in the process. After that, Skarsgard proceeds to murder three or four people, and when he gets to the last person, he bites into their neck, as if he is a dog feeding on his prey. That was another thing. There are so many dog references in this movie. From start to finish, dogs are involved and it is gruesome. But I liked what I was seeing.

I liked how they made this movie. I was fully in on Skarsgard. I'm relatively new to him. My wife watched "True Blood", but I did not. And I loved when he was on the most recent season of "Atlanta". But this was a juicy leading role for him and he nailed it. He was magnetic. He put in a ton of work on his body and it showed. He played his character to perfection. He was the only viking I rooted for, but there were times when he was just as bad as the rest. As for the rest of the cast, they were up to the task. Anya Taylor Joy was great. She looked and acted like a viking queen. She was a total badass as well. I loved her in this. Ethan Hawke was dope. He is having a bit of a renaissance. Nicole Kidman was ruthless and evil and totally nailed it. Claes Bang was a bad, bad dude, but I kind of sided with him a little bit in the end. Willem Dafoe was as creepy as ever and it was so fitting for this movie. Bjork had a bit part and it was exactly what she thrives at doing, being weird and using her cool voice. It was just a perfect cast in a very good movie.

I mentioned that one fight scene at the top, but this movie was filled with some of the best, and most real, fight scenes I've watched in a movie. There was one where they were playing some kind of old game, and when Skarsgard goes to protect a child, oh my was that nuts. There was another one where he takes on multiple fighters and beats them, until he is contained and proceeds to get repeatedly punched in the face. When he was tied up it was the most real looking torture thing I have seen since "Zero Dark Thirty". When he gets Taylor Joy to feed the guards hallucinogenic mushrooms, and what happens next, it was wild. My favorite was when Skarsgard returned to the site of his capture and freed the people at night time. That was rad. And brutal. And gory. And kind of sad. But it was so well done. And the final battle scene, no spoilers, was totally worth the anticipation and build up. It ended on a perfect crescendo. I sat on my couch and just kind of stewed in what I had just watched. I really thought about it all. And I came away thinking this was one of the better movies I have watched in some time. It is beautiful to look at, well acted and directed, very well written and super interesting.

I definitely recommend the movie under the caveat that it is slow in certain parts and that the movie is very heavy with viking and Icelandic language. But Skarsgard, Taylor Joy and those battle scenes are totally worth it in the end. "The Northman" lived up to my personal hype.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.