The Annual Catch-Up Meets Parasite(s)

Forgive my tardiness on last week's entry. It was a week filled with interviews. Some were talent, some were for work, all were exciting (though I do have a favorite — you'll have to tune in later to learn more, though). The Critical Role team also had its premiere for the upcoming Mighty Nein, which I am already all-in on and cannot wait for everyone to experience.

While last week was a week of prep — interviews, screenings, premieres, screeners, etc. — this is a week of deadlines. You'll see me on a podcast, and I have several articles on major releases hitting the airwaves (webwaves?) while I continue to chip away on this research project.

You'll also find me in FANGORIA's first bookazine: its Frankenstein issue — which I believe is sold out online but you can find at a newsstand near you or at this link — where I talk about the story throughout the ages and do my best not to get completely wrapped up in the awe that is Mary Shelley. Hop down to the bottom of the newsletter for my thoughts on Guillermo del Toro's take on The Creature. (Spoiler, I loved it.)

There was fun sprinkled in with all of the work, which was nice given that last week was one of those work weeks that was filled with all preparation and no payoff. The gang went to Chili's to try the Wicked margs. They were a profound disappointment! But the company was perfect, we had a hilarious time, and we got a deeply absurd cheese pull out of it all.

Outside of the world of cheese, we ended up with a last second chance to tick a bucket list concert off our list. Set It Off is a staple in this household, and the band delivered live not just in talent but in playing basically all of our favorite songs (go listen to "Parasite" and "Wolf In Sheep's Clothing".

The Annual Catch-Up

It's that time of year when any member of a voting body scrambles to fit in all of the films and shows that they missed during the regular season. (Unless, of course, you have enough time to keep up with everything when it releases, at which point I'd like to know what it's like to be god's favorite child?) Given the L.A. rain, our house spent some time catching up on awards season likelies. And, given the time of year, this section will likely be recurring through December. Here were this week's watches:

Hedda:

Nia DaCosta, as far as I'm concerned, simply doesn't miss. (Yes, I am a The Marvel's lover.) Her adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's "Hedda Gabler" is no exception, featuring Tessa Thompson in the titular role. DaCosta brings Ibsen's story into the contemporary with ease, with her script and direction finding themselves elevated by Thompson's breezy performance of the deeply messy yet endlessly charming Hedda. You can find it on Prime Video now.

Frankenstein:

I will always love 1931's Frankenstein and many of the adaptations that followed, but I have spent much of my life longing for a film that honored Mary Shelley's novel more closely. Which is to say, I couldn't be happier with Guillermo del Toro's take on the classic. I had concerns going in, as I find both Mia Goth and Jacob Elordi rather unremarkable, but Elordi delivered as The Creature and del Toro's Elizabeth required nothing of note from Goth. (I do dream of the beetle green dress, though. Go off Kate Hawley.) I found the subtle changes to the source material valuable, and even preferred that the wolves looked Like That™ given their fate (and given that the rest of the digital animals look good). I long for the day we all give up on fake blood and fake fire, though. The film is on Netflix now.

Rental Family:

Writer/Director Hikari waltzed into my life and decided to leave me in shambles with Rental Family. The film stars Brendan Frasier as Phillip, and American actor in Japan stumbling his way through finding work and learning a culture that is not his own. Phillip eventually stumbles upon a casting company called Rental Family that relies on its actors to basically help lie to their loved ones. In many cases, their motives are noble. However, things can get complicated quickly with even their most well-meaning clients.

As you'd expect, much of the emotional oomph rests of Frasier's shoulders, but not enough can be said about Shannon Gorman's performance as Mia, a young girl who finds herself attached to Phillip by way of her mother's well-intended deceit. Shōgun's Takehiro Hira delivers some heartfelt swings of his own as Shinji — Rental Family's owner. While this isn't really a film that can be tarnished by spoilers, that's all I really care to share about this'n. That said, I do encourage you to check it out if you are able. Because of its subtitles, this one is likely to get far less attention than it deserves from mainstream viewers. Rental Family is now in theaters.

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