September 2020 Review: The Best Movies I Saw Last Month
Originally published October 11, 2020
By the time September came around, I finally felt like I had a chance to breathe in work, life, etc. I took some time off and have had the luxury of enjoying myself more. I’m still working on finalizing the edits on a bunch of movie reviews and I am hopeful they can start trickling in soon!
I watched 49 movies for the first time and re-watched another eight movies (the first seven Friday the 13th films and the original Japanese Ring). Overall, the month was pretty typical. I watched some great films.
BEST #3) Threads (1984); Director: Mick Jackson; United Kingdom/Australia/United States
This made for tv film follows the British city of Sheffield, England in the follow-up and aftermath of a nuclear attack. A film that horrified hundreds of thousands upon its release, Threads is a brutal and uncompromising look at the impact advanced nuclear war tactics could have on a community from a local and global scale. While not a traditional horror film, Threads straddles the line between science fiction, drama, horror, and war genres in a terrifying way. Karen Meagher plays everywoman Ruth Beckett, a pregnant bride-to-be who navigates the morbid realities of the new world in an attempt to make a life for herself and her child. Meagher’s performance is raw and grounded in reality, which makes it very easy to relate and sympathize with her. This can be said for the majority of the character in Threads. They all try and make the most of their situation but are ultimately doomed by their unchangeable circumstances and that inevitability is what makes Threads pack such a hard punch. If it could happen to them, it could easily happen to you. Released in the twilight years of the Cold War, Threads outlines the blueprint for what the consequences of escalating war meant for most people. This is potentiated by the faux documentary angle the director Mick Jackson chooses to use for a framing device. Macabre in ways different than most horror films, Threads is a disturbing and nauseating film that feels too close for comfort in a world of constant hostile international turmoil.
Overall Score? 8/10
BEST #2) Day of the Dead (1985); Director: George Romero; United States
Charged with finding a solution to the ever-growing zombie problem plaguing the world, a group of scientists, soldiers, and civilians work together to envision their future. Or they at least try. Day of the Dead is the third film in George Romero’s original Living Dead Trilogy. Day of the Dead punches less social commentary into the series and instead offers a more philosophical approach to humanity. Are we merely here to survive? What rules do we except for others but not ourselves? Is there even a point to it all? Day of the Dead asks these questions while the military compound quickly dwindles to a few survivors. What I enjoy so much about Day of the Dead is that while there are clearly human antagonists in the fold, every character gets their chance to show the worst they have to offer. Stubbornness, rage, jealousy, elitism, nihilism, their flaws are evident and aren’t excused. We accept that these characters are not perfect people, but we still naturally want some to survive. A captivating script, a claustrophobic setting, and a constant feeling of dread permeating through the screen make Day of the Dead an excellent zombie classic to entertain and enthrall viewers.
Overall Score? 8/10
BEST #1) Sputnik (2020); Director: Ego Abramenko; Russia
A cosmonaut returns to Earth after being attacked in space by something not of this world. Unable to leave an isolation facility, his only hope of survival comes from a brilliant doctor with a troubled past. The doctor, Tatyana, played by Oksana Akinshina, must work to uncover the cure for the arrogant Soviet hero so he can greet the public and the government can save face for the cosmic snafu. I’ll be posting a more in-depth review of Sputnik later, but I just want to say how absolutely engrossing this sci-fi horror drama is from start to finish. Tatyana and Konstantin are great characters that have solid character arcs throughout the film. Not only is there a lot to learn about them, but audiences find out just how compassionate, resilient, and dedicated they are to their respective missions. To me, it is always important for the characters to be both likable and compelling, otherwise the horror and mayhem doesn’t hit as hard. And Sputnik does not disappoint in either arena. While it does not feature tons of carnage, Sputnik is an impressively violent and frightening film that delivers on its terrifying premise in ways that most sci-fi horrors fail to achieve. Put this Russian gem on your radar if you enjoy thoughtful character meditations and political undertones accompanied with by steadily escalated alien mayhem.
Overall Score? 8/10
