Let's Not Meet (2018) Movie Review

Very ambitious attempt from a small studio, Shady Dawn Pictures, and Director Ryan Callaway. 'Let's Not Meet' starts off as a typical young people go camping and end up fighting for survival film. Turns with a few twists into something with depth and a story to tell. Aya is a loner pizza delivery girl (how come the fat guy who delivers my pizza doesn't look like this!) that gets thrown in with the girls that bullied her in high school to fight the creepy thing in the woods. Early money says they're all dead by dawn!

Several things have this movie punching above its weight class. First is the cinematography provided by Marcel Brown. Most low budget films (and some big ones) fall into making the screen too dark for night time shots. Visuals are crisp and well lit here. Watch 'Everly' (2014) for an example of a horribly shot movie. Second is CFX Composite Effects providing a badass monster. Most low budget movies should do everything possible to not really show the monster. Third, there is a number of wonderful scenes. One that stands out the most is Aya Skyping her niece. These scenes show we will see many more movies from Callaway. Peter Jackson started out with 'Bad Taste' (1987) and James Cameron started out with 'Piranha 2' (1981). Callaway started out with Let's Not Meet!

One thing that drags the story down is 'mansplaining' everything, like George Lucas needing to dive deeper into Midi-Chlorians. No one cares George! By trying to put everything on a silver platter for the viewer not only does it slow the film down to a crawl multiple times but makes the holes even bigger. When it sticks to being a creepy thing in the woods, it's great. But through trying to explain the creepiness, it just kills the pace, not to mention weakens the reveal. It's a visual medium, show the viewer the story. If I wanted words I'd read a book!

YouTube Let's Not Meet Trailer

Another is by having too many characters, most seem cardboard, just like their deaths. Anytime someone shows a little emotion or starts having fun, they provide a huge spark for the movie. The overly somber tone leaves one praying for a girl to freak out, run off naked through the woods to her over-the-top bloody death. Good actors like Donald Sutherland, Anthony Hopkins, or Mel Gibson can read the telephone book and be interesting. Most actors in low budget movies aren't quite on this level. Breanna Engle gives a great performance with the somber tone working well for her character Aya. Along with Carmine Giordano who plays man-child Nate, gives the movie most of its spark. Mr. Callaway needed to find ways to make give the other characters personalities. It's a great seventy-minute movie, unfortunately, it's longer than that.....

Who's Watching Oliver? (2017) Movie Review

A wonderfully demented look at a mother and son's special relationship. Oliver has 99 problems and Mama is the cause of all of them! Even though Oliver is halfway around the world from Mama, she holds an ironclad grip over his mental stability. When Mama is horny, no one is safe!

It would be easy to lump this film in with Psycho (1960). Try and make a connection as an updated version for this generation. But that would be a disservice to everyone involved in making this movie. Director Richie Moore does nothing to copy or emulate Alfred Hitchcock's work. The story bares no resemblance, except for a mentally unstable man who loves his mother. The film isn't suspenseful or trying to make audience members jump out of their seats. Who's Watching Oliver is just telling the story of a horrific tale. The horror are the events unfolding on the screen.

YouTube Who's Watching Oliver (2017) Trailer

Mr. Moore doesn't leave one boring second on the screen. The story unfolds quickly. The plot set up and character development are smoothly rolled out. Russell Geoffrey Banks as Oliver is uneasy to watch. But that is the point, an awkward, loner, who has obvious mental development issues, makes most people uncomfortable. Mr. Banks plays the character very well, not too much (Never go full retard!), and is unrecognizable in this role. Sara Malakul Lane plays the damaged Sophia, the girl who disparately needs to seek anyone to save her from the life she's trapped in.

This film deserves better ratings, IMDB 5.6/10. Beware of gratuitous nudity and sexual content. It goes to some sexually deprived places. They did use many buckets of blood without ever wandering into grindhouse territory. I would not recommend watching this with your kids or going upstairs to watch it with your mom. Shut the curtains tight, make sure the door is locked, and put on the headphones. Guaranteed to make you feel funny, kinda like climbing the rope in gym class.......