What Katie Watched

Tag: Movie

  • Pride and Prejudice (2005)

    2h 8mins

    9/10

    Rewatch in the cinema

    Romance – Period Drama – Classic

    A timeless enemies to lovers tale featuring the spirited Elizabeth Bennet and the enigmatic Mr Darcy, reminding us that first impressions can be wonderfully deceiving.

    What a stunningly beautiful adaptation of the Jane Austin classic, Pride and Prejudice. Joe Wright knows how to paint a breath taking picture on our screens. So many shots that could make a striking framed image to hang on anyone’s wall.

    The music gives me goosebumps and is so perfectly paired with the events taking place on screen.

    Countless laugh out loud moments with the hilarious comic performances by all. Stunning performances by this start studded cast.

    The innocence of Jane and Mr Bingley warms my heart.

    I love joining Elizabeth on her journey as she unfolds more and more about Mr Darcy.

    So much re-watchability in this period drama romance that is perfectly woven with humour. It feels like a big cosy hug watching it. I can feel a brightness on my face when I am watching this loveliness.

    Would watch again

  • Wild Thing (1998)

    1h 48mins

    7/10

    First time watch

    Mystery/Crime – Seductive – 90’s Vibes

    A police team grows suspicious that there’ more beneath the surface when two high school students accuse their guidance counsellor of rape, unravelling a web of deception, manipulation and dark secrets.

    This was a fun and enjoyable watch that I feel I would have loved even more had I watched it as a teen.

    It starts out feeling like your average 90’s teen movie, with your beautiful popular people and the rebellious outcasts (who are equally beautiful), when things take a serious turn when accusations of rap are made.

    Plenty of twists and turns along the way, some more predictable than others, but it’s a fun ride all the same.

    A sexy, 90’s suspense film, where you can have fun playing detective.

    Would watch again

  • Get Out (2017)

    1h 44mins

    8/10

    Rewatch

    Psychological Thriller – Suspense – Identity

    Chris visits his girlfriend’s secluded family estate for the first time, but what starts as an awkward weekend quickly becomes the unravelling of a chilling and sinister secret.

    I loved the thrill I got from watching this film for the first time, completely sucked in and desperate to know how it would all pan out, but it also has such great rewatch-ability.

    It is a master in creating tension, where everything seems so polite and pleasant, but there’s still that level of unease. The juxtaposition of the sound used against the happy family home scenes adds tension, telling you something is off but unsure as to what. As does the warm lighting of the shots around the family, versus the cool tones of the “sunken place”.

    Daniel Kaluuya pulls you into Chris’ experience of self-doubt, where he can feel something is not quite right but where there’s not been a massive glaring red flag, it’s hard to put into words and share that heavy gut feeling.

    A gripping, ominous, nail-biting thriller with fantastic performances and a great visual aesthetic.

    Would watch again

  • Natural Born Killers (1994)

    1h 58mins

    6/10

    First time watch

    Serial Killer Fascination – Dark Comedy – Crime

    A brutal couple infected with the murder bug embark on a blood-soaked rampage across America, leaving a trail of violence and a media frenzy in their wake.

    I thought I was discovering a new top watch for me that I would be adding to my rewatch list, unfortunately this took a downward turn about halfway through the film.

    I love how the film plays with its visual styles, almost like a collage where it jumps from black and white to grainy handheld footage, surreal animation and even a sitcom parody. This creates a disorienting and hyperactive experience that reflects the chaos felt by the characters.

    I enjoyed the blend of comedy with the violence, which less graphic than the title suggests and I was grateful for.

    I was hooked into the crazy and chaotic nature of Mickey and Mallory on the run, but found my interest dwindled about halfway through. Then I was just sticking it out to the end to know I had finished it. I would have probably given the ending a 3-4 out of 10, but I enjoyed the beginning so much I’m giving it a 6 overall.

    I also thought it was very interesting showing how serial killers and violence are glamourised by the media and the following the can gain celebrating their behaviour.

    Would not watch again

  • Her (2013)

    2h 6mins

    8/10

    Rewatch

    Romance – Sci-Fi – Loneliness

    A lonely writer in near future L.A. forms a fast friendship that continues to evolve with his latest purchase, a cutting-edge artificial intelligence operating system designed to adapt to your every need.

    This is such a beautiful film both in its appearance and its story. Joaquin Phoenix’s endearing performance draws you into Theodore’s world, where he’s going through the motions of life appearing happy enough, but there’s a sadness where he’s longing for connection.

    With the rise in use of A.I. Systems, such as, Siri, Gemini and Chat GPT, I share the curiosity but also the hesitation Theodore has for the new system as he first downloads it. I fully see how people could come to rely on these A.I. Systems for companionship. Something ready to answer your every question, discuss the topics you want to discuss, never too busy for you. Although this film explores this in such a beautiful and heartwarming way, it also fills me with sadness how humanity is feeling less and less connected to one another.

    Would watch again

  • Pearl (2022)

    1h 42mins

    8/10

    First time watch

    Surreal – Thriller – Technicolour Nostalgia

    Pearl starts losing herself in her dreams of becoming a star like the ones she idolises on the big screen, however as her isolation grows while feeling increasingly trapped on her family farm, Pearl will stop at nothing to get her big break.

    Wow! This film takes you on a ride of suspense! Another film I went into blindly after hearing it’s name pop up here and there, but had no clue as to what it was about.

    Instantly loved its old school technicolour aesthetic and the dreaminess of Pearl talking away to the animals on her farm. There’s a lot of loveliness on the surface, but also an eerie undertone to it all.

    I felt there were some nods to The Wizard of Oz (1939), I’m sure it was intentional, but if not, it really reminded me of it.

    Mia Goth gives an incredible performance, taking you along Pearl’s journey which feels caught in the in between of dreams and reality, as she struggles with the isolation she is feeling on her family farm. She tires her best to care for her father, who is unable to look after himself, but constantly feels she is under the scrutiny of her judgemental mother.

    A surreal, dream-like, creepy horror that leaves you feeling unsettled while thinking what a great looking film! I have discovered after watching this, that it is part of a trilogy and I am very excited to watch the other two films.

    Would watch again

  • Goodrich (2024)

    1h 51mins

    5/10

    First time watch

    Family Dynamics – Drama – Slice of Life

    When his wife enters rehab, Andy Goodrich is forced to juggle full-time parenting of their young twins, while trying to reconnect with his estranged adult daughter and preventing his struggling art gallery from closing.

    This is a sweet but forgettable film.

    Michael Keaton was excellent, as always, and I enjoyed Mila Kunis’ performance as well. However, the story itself didn’t feel like it offered anything new. It follows a familiar arc: a man consumed by work is made to feel guilty for providing for his family, only to be thrown into a situation that forces him to slow down and reconnect. Predictably, he discovers that spending time with his kids is more fulfilling than his career. It’s a well-worn narrative that reminds me of the “career woman learns the joy of motherhood” trope, where success is ultimately framed as stepping away from ambition to embrace family life.

    Would not watch again

  • Jurassic World: Rebirth (2025)

    2h 13mins

    5/10

    First time watch in the cinema

    Action – Sci-Fi – Adventure

    A specialised team are assembled to journey into a forbidden zone, where dinosaurs still roam freely, to retrieve rare DNA that could revolutionise modern medicine.

    I was hoping to enjoy this more than I did. It wasn’t bad, but just an average, predictable, action/adventure film. If that’s your go to genre and you fancy an easy, fun enough watch I think you would find it likeable.

    I enjoyed the performances of the main cast, probably wouldn’t have liked it as much had they not been in it. The story is just a bit meh. It’s a shame as I, like many others, have positive and nostalgic feelings towards Jurassic Park (1993) so I know the newer ones will never hold up to the original in my mind. However, with the first of the resurgence of Jurassic World (2015), I remember buying into the new storyline and getting swept up in the adventure of it all unlike this latest instalment.

    Would not watch again

  • Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995)

    1h 28mins

    6/10

    First time watch

    Coming of Age – Dark Comedy – Alienation

    Dawn is a painfully awkward Junior High student, who is relentlessly bullied at school, ignored by her teachers, dismissed by her family and desperately longing for someone/anyone to truly see and cared for her.

    I spent most of this film wanting to jump in and shake the adults for not looking out for poor Dawn.

    This film is great at showing how cruel kids can be to one another when they are trying to find their place among their world at school. Poor Dawn doesn’t do anything to any of her peers, but still manages to rub them up the wrong way. She then takes this frustration out on the only people she feels able to, those younger than her, her sister Missy and only friend Ralphy.

    I found moments of this film pretty jarring, especially a bully’s threat of rape after school, but that then gets down played and kind of brushed off. This might be to reflect young Dawn’s innocence and not really understanding what this threat actually means. The bully themself might also be too young to actually know what that words means.

    A quirky, coming of age story with comedic elements but a dark under-tone.

    Would not watch again

  • Mandy (2018)

    2h 1min

    3/10

    First time watch

    Horror- Surreal – Action

    Red embarks on a brutal quest for vengeance after a deranged pseudo-hippie cult abducts his wife Mandy.

    This was far more gruesome and difficult to watch than I had expected. I thought it was going to be more weird and surreal like Color Out of Space (2019), rather than graphically violent. Completely m own fault for thinking they’d be similar with Nicolas Cage as the lead and the film posters having a similar vibe. Classic “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover”.

    Some very cool looking shots that look like they could have been stills taken form some artsy heavy metal music videos.

    Would not watch again