May 2023 Review: The Best Movies I Saw Last Month
Originally published June 8, 2023
After a busy month of moving apartments and dealing with work, I didn’t find much time to enjoy horror as I usually would. I did manage to sneak in a few gems here and there, but ultimately it was a forgettable month. I watched 17 new films and re-watched one film. Here are the best of the bunch!
Re-Watch Highlight: None
BEST #6) Horror in the High Desert 2: Minerva (2023); Director: Dutch Marin; United States
Please check out the full review here.
Overall Score? 6/10
BEST #5) Torn Hearts (2022); Director: Brea Grant; United States
Jordan and Leigh are aspiring country singers that are convinced they are the next big thing. Their idol, Harper Dutch of the Dutch Sisters, who survives her late sister, Hope, lives in a mansion just outside of Nashville, and the duo is determined to get on a song with her. When they arrive, things don’t go how they expect. Harper is odd, to say the least. The friends are put through a series of mental tests and games in which they must battle to impress their idol and stay alive. Torn Hearts is another cautionary tale about the dangers of pursuing fame and the terrible things people will do to achieve their dreams. Managing to mix humor, horror, and savage commentary on the male dominated field of country music without losing focus on the development of its main characters, Torn Hearts does a tremendous job of balancing it all. Great performances and a lively script keep this Blumhouse production light and fun while treading on serious subject matter.
Overall Score? 6/10
BEST #4) Poison for the Fairies (1986); Director: Carlos Enrique Taboada; Mexico
Flavia, a young rich little girl, meets resident outcast Veronica, who tells her that she is secretly a witch. The two form an unlikely friendship that tips the balance of power firmly into Veronica’s hands, as she has a habit of forcing Flavia’s hand by threatening her with her witch powers. The co-dependent relationship escalates to the point where lives are at stake with neither child ready to call each other’s bluff. While not exactly the most exciting film, Poison for the Fairies is a fascinating take on the world children live in, and the dangers that inhabit it. Shot in the children’s perspective, nearly every camera shot intentionally does not show an adult’s face. By far the most fascinating aspect of the film, it shows the distance adulthood feels to childhood problems and the magnitude of their fears. More of a film to think about after than to outright enjoy while watching, Poison for the Fairies is certainly a gem of Mexican cinema that deserves a watch at least once.
Overall Score? 7/10
BEST #3) Clock (2023); Director: Alexis Jacknow; United States
Please check out the full review here.
Overall Score? 7/10
BEST #2) Consecration (2023); Director: Christopher Smith; United Kingdom/United States
Please check out the full review here.
Overall Score? 7/10
BEST #1) Scare Campaign (2016); Director: Cameron Cairnes, Colin Cairnes; Australia
In its fifth season, the popular prank television show Scare Campaign is fizzling out due to new trends in the market. Prematurely cancelled before their season finale is even shot, the crew is given one more chance to deliver an exceptional finale and elevate the stakes. Their fiercely ambitious director Marcus takes the challenge in stride, planning one of their most elaborate pranks ever. Is this the day they finally go too far and prank the wrong person? A refreshingly fun and frightening indie film, Scare Campaign keeps the tension alive with several clever writing tricks and expert direction. The cast does an exceptional job playing the crew and make for compelling enough protagonists in the face of adversity. While predictable in a way, Scare Campaign entertains thoroughly which makes it this month’s best pick.
Overall Score? 7/10
