As we rapidly approach the holidays, Lakeview Bulldogs are finding ourselves with a lot of things to do and catch up on. If you ever find yourself with some spare time, I have compiled a list of the three best films to be released this month. Using my knowledge, I will break down elements of these films that’ll make it worth your time.
Frankenstein– Premiering on Netflix earlier this month, this stylized revision of the original 1818 novel is brought to life by Academy Award winner director Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water, Pan’s Labyrinth), and starring Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi as the scientist and creature respectively.
The film follows Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist who is dedicated to defeating death with the help of a wealthy benefactor after a string of personal tragedies. After finally perfecting one of his experiments, which culminates in a living Creature, he rejects it, as he doesn’t believe it lived up to its full power. Shortly thereafter, the Creature embarks on a journey of self discovery and seeks revenge, leading to a tragic confrontation.
It’s no secret that this film has been hyped among fans of the director and story, as del Toro’s signature style blends well with the dark and psychological themes. Viewers can tell really when watching that the filmmaker’s passion and love for the source material was truly something that he wanted to do justice for. Every detail of this film, from the costumes, sets, and technical aspects, where methodically done to fully immerse you into the macabre and eerie world. Though the pacing feels a little rushed during the second act, the film’s structure otherwise works really well, as it’s told in two parts through both of the main character’s perspectives, which is something that helps further the impact of the tragedy.
Junior Joseph Gillis says, “What interests me most about this new re-imagining of the classic Frankenstein story is the chance to give the monster a more complex emotional presence as well as the exploration of the relationship between creator and creation. With a rise of gothic horror movies like 2024’s Nosferatu, I’m interested to see what themes can be taken away from this modern adaptation.”
Predator: Badlands– What is likely the best installment since the original 1987 film, Badlands expands the franchises to focus on a more Predator oriented story. While still having a fairly simple plot and structure, it still manages to have impactful action sequences and moments featuring a non-verbal lead character.
After being outcasted from his tribe, young hunter Dek travels to a foreign planet to get his first kill and prove himself worthy. Along the journey, he reluctantly allies with Thia, a robot whose synthetic sister is trying to track them down.
As mentioned before, this film is the latest installation in a franchise that otherwise has found little critical success since the original. However, after the acclaim and praise for the two previous installments, 2022’s Prey and the animated anthology Killer of Killers which premiered earlier this year, it seems that the series is finally starting to leave an impactful mark. Once again directed by Dan Trachtenberg, he further proves that he truly has a sense for what this universe really means and how to expand upon it, although the opening scene looks like something out of a CW show, the effects are overall mesmerizing. Another major reason why this film works is before there is only one main human lead (portrayed by Elle Fanning in a dual role), which provides another level to the character dynamics and storytelling.
Providing an opposing opinion, Sophomore Ethan Johnson says, “Well it seems a bit violent and maybe that would be interesting, I doubt that it would good as the original since most of the sequels aren’t good.”
The Running Man– Based on the novel by Stephen King (under the pseudonym Richard Bachman) and co-written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Baby Driver), the film is the long awaited faithful adaptation of the source material.
Set in a near-future dystopian America and starring Glen Powell, we follow Ben Richards after he is blacklisted and trying to raise money for his gravely ill daughter. He is then selected to appear on The Running Man, a popular game show in which you are hunted for 30 days, and receive a billion dollar cash prize if you survive. Due to his resilience and determination, he quickly becomes a favorite across the world, threatening the whole system.
Differing greatly from the loosely adapted Arnold Schwarzenegger film, it might seem easy to look past this film due to pre-conceived nostalgia or the changes. It’s better to ignore the original altogether, as the new adaptation expands the world building and stakes, making it much more immersive and entertaining. Though some dystopian elements might be lost in translation in some scenes, particularly when there’s product placement. Despite this, you feel as if you are in this alternate version of America for a majority of the runtime, as the stylization helps to let you in on the action. Another criticism that’s commonly brought up is the rushed ending, yet the first two hours definitely more than make up for it making this film something not worth missing this year, especially with an all-star supporting cast featuring Josh Brolin, Colman Domingo, and Michael Cera.
Lakeview alum Evan Hyde says, “I haven’t seen it yet but [The Running Man] seems like a fun concept that I would watch. Not a big Glen Powell fan and I think he looks weird but the movie looks fun and original.”
Now, while these were just a few films, there were several others that released that might fit your interest level more. Films like Wicked: For Good and Now You See Me: Now You Don’t are just two of the of the other biggest hits released over the past month, with several others such as Avatar: Fire and Ash, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, and Anaconda releasing over the course of December. No matter what there is, there is something for everyone to enjoy this holiday season.
