By https://press.searchlightpictures.com/all-us-strangers/, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=74698852
All of Us Strangers - (2023)
Imagine, at the age of 12, saying goodbye to your parents one festive season as they leave to go to a friend's place, and never seeing them again when they die in a car crash on the way home. There's a pain that would never leave me. It explains why television screenwriter Adam (Andrew Scott) is as cut off from the world as he is, although the fact that he grew up gay during a time when that made him a subject of ridicule at school didn't help. After meeting, and at first rejecting, Harry (Paul Mescal) he goes back to his childhood home and again meets his parents as they were when they died. Through this, Adam tries to resolve all of the issues he's never managed to have closure on throughout the years. It's as sad, painful and contemplative as you'd expect - a reminder for us not to close doors on people who may just be needing that moment of kindness to keep them going in this cold and lonely world. A powerful, thought-provoking film.
8/10
By http://www.impawards.com/2023/knock_...abin_ver3.html, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72371404
Knock at the Cabin - (2023)
Just the barest hint of the premise : Eric (Jonathan Groff) and husband Andrew (Ben Aldridge) are vacationing with their adopted daughter, Wen, at a remote cabin when four strangers come carrying bladed weapons, demanding to be let in. They have a proposition and demand which is both terrifying and unbelievable. As is common with M. Night Shyamalan (call it "The M. Night Shyamalan Irony") most of his film is compelling, exciting and a great watch - but it's the ending which doesn't quite finish it off with a great flourish to my satisfaction. After his amazing
Sixth Sense ending (and, I have to say,
Unbreakable's ending isn't too bad) it's something that Shyamalan has struggled with forever after. Overall though, this is a solid enough thriller/horror film in my book - enough so that I'm interested in what this guy does next. The way he's veered into genre-like territory has been good for him.
6/10
By The poster art can or could be obtained from the distributor., Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=56969457
First Reformed - (2017)
A pastor whose son died in Iraq and who has lost his wife regains a purpose in life after meeting a despairing environmentalist - but his newfound passion may end up pushing him over the edge. A surprising slow burn that gets to the point and touches a deep nerve. Full review
here, in my watchlist thread.
8/10