The Brutalist (2024 film)

Genre: Historic drama epic

Directed by: Brady Corbet

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I hestitated for a very long time before deciding to start this movie. I've always wanted to watch it becasuse I think Adrien Brody is one of the best actors of this generation. But seriously? Three fucking hours? In that time I could watch a standard-length horror movie, get a Thai massage, get some ink done and have time for coffee afterwards.

Now, the title of the film refers to the architecture style known as Brutalism whose features are exposed concrete/building materials, straight geometric shapes and bland colour pallettes - not anything to do with fighting or MMA.

So I'm torn - a three hour Adrien Brody movie just simply has to be the most epic movie in history. But a three hour movie about an architect - epic? Really? However, some time back when I was on holidays from work, I decided it's now or never - put my feet up, get a packed lunch, shut myself off from the world and hit play.

The plot:

The movie plays out in five parts - Overture, The Enigma Of Arrival, an intermission, The Hard Core Of Beauty and Epilogue: The First Architecture Biennale.

Talk To Me (2022 film)

Category: Teen supernatural horor

Directed by: Danny and Michael Phillippou

Similar to: Hereditary, It Follows

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I avoided this movie for a while because the name of this movie is very similar to a software application I support at my work whose implementation and support have caused me headaches - to the point that merely typing the title of this movie reminds me of said work, the last thing I want while I am on annual leave and watching movies.

But once again, I am also guilty of cutting off my nose to spite my face by delaying watching this - this movie turned out to be quite decent! I'll get into my full thoughts after a plot run-down, but if you're a fan of movies like Hereditary and It Follows, you'll also like this one.

The other thing to note is that this is another high-profile horror movie to be filmed in South Australia as The Babadook and Snowtown were filmed there as well. Maybe South Australia is competing with Tasmania to be the horror capital of Australia - God knows South Australia has some skin in the game on that front, to the point that Top Gear once famously quipped:

"Being home to serial killers, and sharks, and probably also serial-killing sharks, and heavy rain, Adelaide is thus a grand place to drive away from."

The plot:

The movie begins at a large teenage house party and we follow Cole (Ari McCarthy) who is in a rage trying to find his brother Duckett (Sunny Johnson). Duckett, as it turns out, has locked himself in a bedroom whose door Cole smashes down. Leading his brother out and castigating everyone present for filming his meltdown on their phones, Cole turns around and is suddenly stabbed by his brother who then proceeds to fatally stab himself.