I think after days burning on beaches and “jogs” (me walking/dying with headphones slipping off my sweaty head) that I’ve had just about enough the sun, this friggin guy.
So instead of being under the watchful eye of the hateful star, I decided to treat myself the only way I know how: Playing video games, applying for short film grants, and finally going to the movie theater again. Here are some highlights I am dying to talk about:
Shadow of the Erdtree
It’s hard. Very hard. But also one of the more rewarding journeys I’ve had in recent entertainment memory.
Elden Ring was nothing short of a phenomenon in the video game world in 2022, so needless to say that the anticipation for a continuation in the form of DLC was erupting.
As mentioned last week, Shadow of the Erdtree feels like becoming addicted to ramming your head against a wall. The difference is that the wall can crumble if you learn to bring the right helmet.
That leads me to the first topic of the expansion: Gameplay.
Game studio FromSoftware is no strange to controversy regarding its… difficult games. Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and most recently Elden Ring are considered some of the greatest, and one of if not the hardest games of all time.
This is partly true, but this is a game about persistence, not just repetition. Any enemy can and probably will fuck you up. But then there’s the reward aspect. You may die to a boss. Several times. But if you pay attention, you learn. From knowledge comes adaptation. Soon you may master dodging and reading the enemy. If you continue the struggle, you can leave, explore elsewhere, level up, find new weapons, and face the foe yet again. And when, not if, when you slay your foe, rewards aplenty find their way, from experience, weapons, locations, and the sweet sweet satisfaction.
Exploration is rewarded. Across the “Land of Shadow” are a variety of upgrades that, when used, permanently increase your strength and resistance to attacks. These “Scadutree fragments” (pronounced “shadow”. Yes, I know.) are everywhere, and from my personal experience, count in the dozens.
And now the story.
***MAJOR SPOILER ALERT FOR ELDEN RING AND SHADOW OF THE ERDTREE
After slaying Mohg, Lord of Blood, we come upon a giant cocoon, an elongated, mummified hand stretching out. We touch it, and enter the Realm of Shadow, embraced by the presence of Demigod Miquella the Kind.
Elden Ring created and mastered my favorite kind of storytelling, in that it doesn’t tell you. You can play this game without a hint of what’s going on, and see it as little more than a cool fantasy game, which already makes it a 10/10. But there is so much more just under the surface.
Shadow of the Erdtree continues the condition of inquisitive plot. Hints about what goes on are hidden in dialogue, locations, item descriptions, and subtle worldbuilding. If you are having difficulty skulking about for clues, there are plenty of resources online for you to browse. And there is a lot.
Miquella has long been teased to be a major force in the base game. Though not physically present, his legacy on the game world cannot be understated. A tragic figure cursed into eternal youth, and stolen by the wicked Demigod Mohg to forge his own dynasty.
Only that is the surface. What lies in the shadows is nothing we were ready for. Miquella the Kind, is a master of manipulation, who gave up his body, emotions, his love, in the sake of his kindness. His enchantment strangling the lands between is little more than a consolidation of power, laying in wait for the eternal child to ascend to godhood.
The land is teeming with absorbing tales. The tragedy of Messmer the Impaler; scorned son of the God-Queen Marika the Eternal, who banished him after dooming him to a forever crusade.
We learn the mysteries of the elusive St. Trina, another hinted figure of the base game.
We are assaulted by the touch of the lingering Frenzied Flame, a cursed magical entity of horrific purpose.
And a dragon civil war.
Even glimpses to Marika the Eternal’s origin.
Longlegs
I now understand why Christopher Nolan doesn’t have a smartphone. He wouldn’t have to read all these damn creepypastas.
Blackcoat’s Daughter, Osgood Perkins’ debut feature, struck a delicious, hellish cord with me that had me frothing for more of his exploration of satanic panic. He took an interesting turn with ghost stories and retellings of classic fairy tales, each to more (undeserving in my opinion), underwhelming responses.
First things first. The marketing behind his latest trip, Longlegs, was a masterpiece on its own. I will say nothing. Just look it up. You won’t be disappointed. Their very existence is cursed.
The film itself? A tad bit underwhelming, especially compared to the remarkable marketing.
I think Osgood Perkins is a good director, with the potential to reach greatness. His framing, building of atmosphere, and experimentation with aspect ratio packs concrete punches.
I normally don’t like jumpscares, as when done wrong they can ruin the pace and tone of the movie. There were several here that genuinely scared me. There is one towards the start of the film that kept me on edge the entire runtime. The atmosphere is one of the most dreadful, heart-attack inducing movie presences I have witnessed in a minute, reminding me of the liminal contortions of space from the work of Kiyoshi Kurosawa. The sound and set design, the score, the lighting (or lack thereof), all meld together into a growling abomination.
And there’s Nicholas Cage as the titular killer. My god, the madman. Rules. He knows exactly what kind of movie he’s in and eats up every second, with eyes that eat away the soul. As bombarding as it is quiet and raspy. A perfect juxtaposition of a killer.
The rest of the movie is not so good.
I love Maika Monroe. She is this generation’s Scream Queen, who’s presence has been as various as it is complex. But my god, she was sleeping at the wheel. Until the very end, she was a monotone statue that belonged in a quiet museum. Give her a Celcius or something.
And the script is a baby boomer’s understanding of what a creepypasta is. A discount Zodiac. There are decent amounts of what I can only assume are flashbacks manifesting in Monroe’s mind that are completely out of pace, barely saved by the creeping atmosphere. The ending felt far too rushed, and what about the damn PSYCHIC PLOTLINE THAT IS COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN ABOUT. HELLOOOO???!!!!
***MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD
This is more of a nitpick, but I actually hated how the spiraling tale ended up as just another “Surprise! It’s the devil!” plotline. Some of the more cryptic elements were fascinating, but better left to interpretation. Shoehorning in Satan felt lazy and unoriginal.
All in all, I enjoyed my time with this. Though there are genuine problems with the movie’s script and actors, there is some great stuff hiding in the shadows. Considering the tiny budget for Longlegs, I am really happy something so different to other horror movies out there is doing so well in the box office, especially for a film of its size.
I hope Osgood Perkins finds a project that will truly elevate his craft. His voice is unique and needed.
Things I Did This Week
If you’re still working on that summer body two months in as I have, please don’t go outside and die in the blistering heat. Go to the gym at 6 AM instead. Walk there if you can, so you can breath before the sun flips you the bird.
I only walked by it, but I am reminded to highly recommend the Landmark in Kendall Square. Though nothing spectacular stands out design wise, its programming is always fresh, mixing the latest hot releases with a selection of international and indie releases.
Both in research and my own pleasure, I have been chugging through Lynne Ramsay’s short films, glimpses into the raw post-industrial decay of Scotland. Her background in photography heightens her direction to other levels, one which masters staging and juxtaposition. They can only be seen, as any words I have do them injustice. Most of them are streaming on the Criterion Channel or YouTube for any interested!
Applying for my own Film Grants has been hard. Will I be passed over? Most likely. But you can’t succeed if you don’t try or show passion for your work. So why not?