“I Saw the TV Glow” – May 17
Written and directed by Jane Schoenbrun, “I Saw the TV Glow” is a horror-drama following teens Owen (Justice Smith) and Maddy (Bridgette Lundy-Paine) as their shared love for a supernatural TV show drives them to question their reality. “I Saw the TV Glow” originally premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 18, 2024, it was released nationally on May 17 by the studio A24.
This film was by far my favorite of the summer. “I Saw the TV Glow” is an incredibly abstract psychological thriller, packed with metaphors and analogies that resonate differently with each person who watches it. The messages of this film are layered and impactful, touching on themes of conformity and repression, while serving as an allegory for the transgender experience. This is a film that not everyone will be able to understand or empathize with, which is a large factor in many of the film’s more critical reviews. Despite that, the film’s ambiguity adds to its beauty, leaving audiences with many interpretations to ponder. Visually, this film is stunning, with vibrant, dreamlike scenes reminiscent of early-90s TV. The soundtrack is also incredible, featuring music by Alex G, and performances by Phoebe Bridgers, Sloppy Jane and King Woman. I’d highly recommend this film to anyone, not just horror fans.
“Inside Out 2” – June 14
Nine years after the release of “Inside Out”, Pixar’s highly-anticipated sequel, “Inside Out 2” once again follows Riley Andersen (Kensington Tallman). This time she navigates the transition into her teenage years. The film depicts Riley’s struggles as she enters puberty and is forced to deal with new emotions.
“Inside Out 2” exceeded my already very high expectations. This was by far the best animated film of the summer. Riley’s struggles with her new emotions were realistic and relatable, and the film’s messages were clear and impactful. Every aspect, from the writing to the animation and voice acting was incredibly well done and contributed to the telling of such an emotionally compelling story. “Inside Out 2” is a film that almost everybody can relate to or connect with in some way. Overall, it’s a beautiful representation of the struggles that come with growing up.
“A Quiet Place: Day One” – June 28
“A Quiet Place: Day One” is a prequel to the “A Quiet Place” series. The film follows Sam (Lupita Nyong’o) and Eric (Joseph Quinn) as they fight for survival after extraterrestrial creatures invade New York City. Together, they find a way to work together and stay alive as they work to get themselves to safety.
As someone who is a fan of the “A Quiet Place” series, I found this prequel underwhelming. I was hoping for more explanation for the invasion, but there is really nothing more added to the previous films. As a standalone film, it was decent, with likable characters and solid jump scares, but I don’t think it accomplishes what the title implies. Both Quinn and Nyong’o performed well in their roles, but their characters lacked any substantial development or depth. The film was well produced, with good special effects and CGI, but as a whole, I was hoping for a little more.
“Despicable Me 4” – July 3
Produced by Universal Pictures and Illumination Studios, “Despicable Me 4” is the fourth installment in the main “Despicable Me” series and the sixth overall installment in the “Despicable Me” universe. In this film, Gru reunites with an old nemesis, Maxime Le Mal. Gru and his family are forced to go undercover. The movie follows their struggles adapting to a new life and their problems with the franchise’s newest villain.
This movie was a super enjoyable experience, a light-hearted, fun, family movie. The film introduces several new characters, all of which I found to be likable and interesting. I do think that the main villain of this movie is a bit forgettable compared to the previous three films. “Despicable Me 4” follows several subplots in addition to the main plot, which at times can feel a bit overwhelming, but as a whole, the storylines work together nicely. The humor was typical of the franchise, which lands well in the context of the film. Overall, this is a great addition to the series, perfect for any family movie night.
“MaXXXine” – July 5
In “MaXXXine”, Mia Goth returns to the “X” franchise for her third film as Maxine Minx. Taking place six years after the events of “X”, “MaXXXine” is set in Los Angeles in 1985 amidst the Night Stalker murders. Minx gets her big break in Hollywood when she lands a leading role in an upcoming horror film, but as the murders begin to hit closer and closer to home, secrets of her past are at risk of being unveiled.
“Maxxxine” was one of my most anticipated movies of the year, and it did not disappoint. Visually, it was super cool, encapsulating the 80s Hollywood aesthetic perfectly. Compared to the previous two films, “Maxxxine” is less of a classic slasher-horror film and more of a thriller mystery. The storyline is interesting and straightforward, with just enough suspense to keep viewers intrigued. The soundtrack is excellent, with many classic 80s hits that are on-point for the timeline of the film. Mia Goth is perfect in the role of Maxine Minx, giving another outstanding performance. Overall, “Maxxxine” is a good ending to a great trilogy, and definitely worth the watch for any horror fan.
“Longlegs” – July 12
Starring Maika Monroe and Nicholas Cage, “Longlegs” is a horror-thriller film directed by Osgood Perkins and released by the studio Neon. Set in the 90s, the film follows FBI Agent Lee Harker (Monroe) as she tracks down an occultist serial killer that goes by the name “Longlegs” (Cage). Harker’s investigation becomes consequential when she uncovers a personal connection to the murders.
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience watching this film. The story is captivating and compelling, and the combination of the cinematography and score creates an eerie and suspenseful atmosphere, perfect for the film. Cage gives a standout performance as Longlegs, creating a character that is both mesmerizing and incredibly disturbing.
The main issue I had with this film was the numerous plot holes, which left me without a solid conclusion and many unanswered questions. I feel like many of the storylines are never fully resolved and the reasons behind the character’s actions are never explained. Overall, the premise and setup of “Longlegs” were very promising, but the execution left me wanting more.
“Descendants: The Rise of Red” – July 12
“Descendants: The Rise of Red” is the fourth film in the “Descendants” franchise and introduces a new cast of characters to the “Descendants” universe. Kylie Cantrall and Malia Baker star as Red and Chloe Charming, respectively. In this new sequel, Red and Chloe must work together to stop Red’s mother, the Queen of Hearts, from turning evil. To do this, they must travel back in time to try and stop the incident that incites the Queen’s villainous spiral.
This movie had very high expectations, following in the footsteps of an already very well established trilogy. Unfortunately, “Descendants: The Rise of Red” fell flat in many aspects. The story was lazily written, with many gaping plot holes that left me and many other viewers frustrated. A huge portion of the movie felt like exposition, and the film introduced too many new characters that had no real significance to the story. Most of the franchise’s original characters have either been lazily written off, or disappeared without an explanation. The new main characters, Red and Chloe, were very one-dimensional and had no real character arc. The production was poor, with very obvious use of green screens and bad CGI. Overall, the entire movie felt rushed and low-budget. I do think that the concept of the movie could have been interesting, the execution fell incredibly short.
“Twisters” – July 19
“Twisters” stars Daisy Edgar-Jones alongside Glen Powell in an action-filled standalone sequel to the 1996 film, “Twister”. The 2024 movie follows meteorologist Kate Carter (Edgar-Jones) as she is persuaded to return to her home state of Oklahoma after a devastating tornado five years earlier. There, she meets storm chaser Tyler Owens (Powell), and the two find themselves working together in tracking a large system of storms and saving people in the path of disaster.
“Twisters” is a perfect summer movie, with likable characters and captivating action. What it lacks in scientific accuracy, it makes up for in entertainment value. I saw it in an IMAX theater, and the immersive 4-D experience only served to heighten the already impressive special effects. The soundtrack features many of today’s top country artists, including Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Bailey Zimmerman, Megan Moroney, and others. Edgar-Jones and Powell have great on-screen chemistry and give compelling performances during the film’s emotional moments. Overall, “Twisters” is a super fun movie, great to watch with family or friends.
“Cuckoo” – Aug. 9
“Euphoria” star Hunter Schafer makes her horror debut in Neon Studio’s film “Cuckoo”. Schafer plays 17-year-old Gretchen, whose family moves to a secluded resort in the German Alps for her father’s job. There, she meets her father’s strange boss, played by Dan Stevens, and uncovers a disturbing project taking place in the tranquility of the mountains.
“Cuckoo” is almost everything I could have wanted. A unique plot, well-timed jump scares, and Hunter Schafer. The storyline is something I’ve never seen before, the perfect mix of creative and strange to keep viewers hooked throughout the film. Every actor deserves high praise for their performances, especially Schafer, who is perfect in the role of the “final girl”. Overall, “Cuckoo” is incredibly well produced and beautifully shot with solid special effects. The only issue I had with this movie was that the plot lost some clarity towards the end of the film. While the strangeness and unpredictability create an intriguing concept, the execution left me a little lost. Altogether, “Cuckoo” is a very well-produced and acted film, highly recommended for any horror fans… or Hunter Schafer fans.
