From Smile 2 to Your Monster, Should You Add These To Your Watchlist?
From terrifying pumpkins to homes full of ghosts and monsters, should you add these films to your watchlist just in time for Halloween?
Carved
Peyton Elizabeth Lee takes on her very first horror movie in Carved, which finds a group of survivors trapped in a historical reenactment village on Halloween. Together, they must battle a sentient pumpkin who is out for revenge after witnessing a pumpkin carving contest.
The idea of a pumpkin trying to carve a human is both terrifying and intriguing, but unfortunately Carved won’t be a new Halloween classic. The script is long-winded and the story grows stagnant. The chemistry is lacking within this ensemble of actors and the special effects come across cheesy as times. I feel like the short film this project was based off of in 2018’s Huluween Film Fest was stronger.
Carved is streaming on Hulu.
Girl Haunts Boy
In Girl Haunts Boy, Michael Cimino plays Cole, a teen grieving the loss of his father as he moves to a new town. When he comes across a unique ring in his new house, it allows him to see Bea (Peyton List), a ghost from the 1920s who has been haunting his bedroom. The duo form an unlikely bond as they work to break the ancient curse on Bea.
If you like your spooky movies with a more wholesome vibe, you don’t want to miss Girl Haunts Boy. Cimino anchors the ghostly romance with his charm and warmth, while List brings a free-spirited wit to her role. Similar to Julie and the Phantoms, the film explores how Cole’s grief tramples his passion for music, but, through his connection with Bea, he learns that rekindling that spark can help keep those memories of our loved ones alive. There are strong parallels to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby in both theme and the fun Gatsby party the duo have a supernatural connection at. Together, Cole and Bea bond over music from the past and present, open themselves up to love, and encourage each other to be brave. Plus we get to hear Cimino sing original music — what’s not to love?! The ending is surprising in the best way, offering up an emotionally heartfelt second chance for both characters.
Girl Haunts Boy is streaming on Netflix.
Smile 2
Global pop star Skye Riley is about to kick off her headlining world tour when she begins to experience terrifying and surreal events in Smile 2. Can she face her dark past before her life spirals out of control?
Fans of Naomi Scott will be excited to see the actress playing a musician again for the first time since 2011’s Lemonade Mouth. With genuinely good pop songs and musical numbers, Smile 2 runs circles around TRAP. While we don’t get to learn much more about the Entity we meet in the first film, the thrills are taken to the next level. It’s disturbing and gory, with Scott proving she’s a scream queen on the rise. Between her blood-curdling screams and the realistic terror behind her eyes, this is a career-best performance for the actress.
Smile 2 is playing in theaters.
The Substance
Superstar Elisabeth Sparkle, played by Demi Moore, is fired from her longtime aerobics show on her 50th birthday in The Substance. Worried about aging, she turns to a mysterious substance that promises to transform her into a better version of herself.
The Substance is uniquely shot with sharp and bright visuals. The heightened and surreal environment adds to The Twilight Zone-esque tale of beauty standards and body horror. Both Moore and Margaret Qualley deliver stand out performances, although I wish there was more of a physical or mental connection between Elisabeth and the other version of herself Sue to warrant why Elisabeth would allow everything that unfolds to continue. The makeup and effects team deserve all the love for really transforming both actors throughout the film in bold and grotesque ways.
The Substance is playing in theaters.
Your Monster
Melissa Barrera plays aspiring actress Laura Franco whose life is falling apart in Your Monster. Her longtime boyfriend breaks up with her while she’s dealing with a cancer diagnosis and then, when she’s in remission, plans to bring a musical she helped him with to the stage without her. In the midst of her rage, she discovers a scary but charming Monster (Tommy Dewey) living in her childhood home.
While Laura works to stand up for herself with bloody results, the Monster gives off a surly comedian vibe. Their odd chemistry works and has you rooting for the unlikely pair. Barrera is pitch perfect as usual, with a highlight being her dressed as a stunning Bride of Frankenstein as she and the Monster have their own Beauty and the Beast-style Halloween dance. While not every moment works, this genre-bending rom-com isn’t afraid to take big swings — and it’s all the better for it.
Your Monster debuts on October 25.
