aronharde

Ever since Steven Kostanski released The Void, which I absolutely adored, he has definitely been on my radar. Since then, I have watched other movies of his like Manborg, Leprechaun: Returns, and Psycho Goreman, all of which were unique and great in their own way. It's no different with Frankie Freako. It's absurd, funny, and totally bonkers. The movie tells the story of Conor, a workaholic who finds himself alone at home when his wife is away for the weekend. He stumbles upon an ad for a party hotline hosted by a strange dancing goblin named Frankie Freako, and soon after, the carnage begins.

The movie is strange, and it honestly took me a while to get into the right mindset to understand its humor and general premise. I wasn't fully convinced at first, but as the movie progresses, it becomes more absurd and fun. Once you settle into the story and its crazy characters, the movie becomes quite entertaining and enjoyable to watch. Similar to movies like Manborg or Psycho Goreman, the comedy doesn't always hit the mark. It's obviously absurd and childish, with some smart jokes mixed in, but I understand it's not for everyone, and at times, it didn't quite connect with me either. However, I still prefer these absurd and fun movies over another stereotypical haunted house movie from Blumhouse. Also, the practical effects in this movie were once again awesome, but I didn't expect anything less from Kostanski and his team. Especially the third act has a nice surprise that could come straight out of an 80s creature feature. If you've enjoyed Kostanski's previous work, you'll likely have a great time with Frankie Freako and his buddies, but I can understand that the absurd humor and narrative might turn some people off. [5.7/10]

I have always enjoyed slasher movies, whether they are from the '80s or more modern, as long as they provide a fun time, some decent kills, and maybe a unique enough villain. Naturally, I was pretty excited for Heart Eyes because of its theme, which could be compared to 2023's Thanksgiving, and also because it starred Mason Gooding, who is a really charming and talented young actor. The movie also featured Devon Sawa in a minor role and Olivia Holt, who was great as the female protagonist.

Speaking of a charming Mason Gooding, that is something the movie really focuses on. Multiple characters thirst over him, and even though I initially thought it was a little on the nose and annoying, it quickly became a fun little running gag.

As for the important stuff, the kills were overall pretty good. There was nothing too out of the ordinary or excessively gory, but some of the kills were creative and well-executed, which was nice to see. The killer looked menacing and unique, and I enjoyed the mask as well.

I didn't expect this movie to have such a comedic core or to focus so much on the rom-com dynamic between the two lead characters. It was a little confusing at first, but once I settled in, the movie became more enjoyable. However, that aspect might turn off some viewers. That being said, it wasn't out of place, since this is obviously a Valentine's Day slasher, so a little rom-com influence doesn't hurt. In fact, it could be a nice compromise for couples where one is a slasher fan and the other enjoys rom-coms.

Some of the jokes hit the nail on the head, while others felt a little forced or straight-up unfunny, but that's how comedy works in movies. There are a few plot points that seem far-fetched or unrealistic, and the movie is definitely not perfect by any means. However, it has fun with its concept and manages to entertain throughout its runtime.

It's unpredictable and unique in its own way while still featuring plenty of recognizable slasher elements. You can tell that Christopher Landon was involved, as this movie felt similar to Happy Death Day or Freaky, so if you enjoyed those films, you'll probably like this one as well. It also had some strong similarities to the modern Scream movies, and some scenes were definitely inspired by that franchise.

Overall, Heart Eyes is a decent slasher with good performances, some funny moments, and pretty solid kills. Even though it's a little uneven and idiotic at times, it delivers an enjoyable watch, which is exactly what I wanted. [6,4/10]

I was rather excited for Little Bites because the premise sounded unique enough, and there were some familiar faces attached to it. It tells the story of a young widow desperately trying to protect her daughter from something evil, to put it vaguely. Krsy Fox, as the mother, does a solid job and largely carries the movie on her back, as her character demands a lot from her.

There are only a limited number of characters, and the acting ranges from pretty good to rather poor at times. From the overall quality of the film, it's clear that the budget was limited and that Spider One and the rest of the team worked with what they had. While I appreciated the use of practical effects, it was obvious that the antagonistic force was just an actor in makeup. The film is very dark and poorly lit, which not only contributes to the cheap-looking effects but also does the movie no favors.

The narrative unfolds at a snail's pace, and the movie feels too long, making for a rather boring viewing experience. It felt like a short film stretched to over 100 minutes, with slow pacing and barely any questions answered. In the end, it was rather unsatisfying, and therefore, I can't recommend watching it. However, if the premise sounds interesting to you, you might want to check it out and form your own opinion.