Popcorn Perspectives with Danny Minton
Week of July 8, 2019
Pet Sematary
Rated R for horror violence, bloody images, and some language
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 57%
Available on Disc and Streaming
Based on Stephen King’s frightening 1983 novel, this updated retelling follows a family who moves into a small New England town only to find out that there is a pet cemetery on their property which has the ability to raise animals from the dead. After a horrible tragedy in the family, the cemetery’s powers are put to the test on a young child. While the basic elements of the book are here, this new imagining has the same issues as the 1989 version. The book might just be too complex to be represented in a feature length film. Or maybe the words on the page just don’t work theatrically. Either way, while the book was and is still amazing, the movies based on the book have both been mediocre. Bringing in Jason Clarke as the father and John Lithgow as Jud give the movie strong acting credibility, but the script and direction just can’t deliver the goods here. The basic terrifying moments are captured, but the rich storytelling just doesn’t stand up. C
High Life
Rated R for disturbing sexual and violent content including sexual assault, graphic nudity, and for language
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 83%
Available on Disc and Streaming
Robert Pattinson and Juliette Binoche star in this crazy weird sci-fi drama about a man who finds himself stranded and alone at the edge of the universe with his young daughter after a series of events has killed everyone else on their ship. While the film takes place in deep space, don’t expect eye-popping special effects or extreme action here. This is a slow burner that comes off as more of a psychological drama than the genre advertised. But that’s okay. This unique and creative story comes from a warped perspective, but it keeps you on your toes, especially if you have a love for twisted narratives from odd filmmakers. This certainly falls into the category of “not for everyone” but for the right audience, it is a bizarre adventure worth checking out. B-
The Professor
Rated R for language, sexual content and some drug use
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 10%
Available on Disc and Streaming
This straight to video release stars former superstar Johnny Depp as an Ivy League professor who discovers he has six months to live and decides to take a new direction in his life. Honestly, Depp puts on a good performance here and there are some interesting and funny moments throughout. These kinds of films are excellent at drawing empathy as many people can put themselves into a “what would I do if I knew I was going to die” mode pretty easily. While some of the film is not exactly pleasant, I’m not sure the movie is deserving of its super-low Rotten Tomatoes score. It’s not great but it’s not horrible and I’m not upset that I spent time on it. This certainly does put Depp’s career into a challenging space as the film’s lack of a theatrical run is more likely due to his waning popularity from backlash on his personal life, but I would bet he’ll figure out how to revive himself soon enough. C+