What to Watch This Weekend: Venom, Kenneth Chambarlain, Sopranos Prequel, Tammy Faye, Foundation, Seance, Still Today, Go Don't Go

For A Fun Comic Book Movie: Venom: Let There Be Carnage (Theaters) 
Venom: Let There Be Carnage is a worthy sequel to the first film, with another great performance by Tom Hardy, plenty of humor, and a psychotic foil to the lethal protector.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Dramatic And All Too Common Experience: The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain (Theaters and Digital)

The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain highlights a horrible, but all too common encounter with police, with a strong performance by Faison and a tense, gripping story.  For more information, check out the review!

For An Origin Story You Can't Refuse: The Many Saints of Newark (Theaters and HBO Max)

Still has that Sopranos allure despite the theatrical timeframe, and make sure to watch it before it leaves HBO Max in 30 days!

For A Stylish And Entertaining Look At  A Complicated Figure: The Eyes of Tammy Faye (Theaters)

The Eyes of Tammy Faye is a stylish look at this complicated person, with transformative performances, wonderful music, and a painfully honest peek behind the eyes of this influential figure.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Dramatic Science Fiction Experience: Foundation (Apple TV+)

Foundation is based on Isaac Asimov's universe, and has interesting characters, great effects, and a mysterious world that makes it a mathematical impossibility to not keep watching.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Haunting Boarding School Story: Seance (Shudder)

Seance's understated tone, great cast, and wonderful setting summon a mysterious and thoroughly enjoyable murder mystery.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Charming Romantic Night: Still Today (Amazon Prime)

Still Today is a charming romantic comedy that has some unconventional leads in a long, one night romantic journey that will give you plenty to smile about.  For more information, check out our review!

For A Slow Burning Indie Apocalypse Story: Go / Don't Go (Amazon Prime)
Go / Don't Go weaves a mysterious, slow-burning story fueled by beautiful cinematography and the introspective performance of Knapp, Luccardi, and Davis, in this indie apocalypse gem.  For more information, check out the review!

What to Watch This Weekend: Murder Bury Win, Army of the Dead, Raya and the Last Dragon, New Order, Pink, Dementia Part II, Seance, PG - Psycho Goreman

For A Killer Board Game Night: Murder Bury Win (Digital)
Roll the dice on Murder Bury Win, a darkly comedic indie film that has the humor and charm to be as entertaining as any board game night.  For more information, check out the review!

For An Action Zombie Comedy: Army of the Dead (Netflix)

Army of the Dead hits the jackpot with a Dead Rising and Italian Job mashup of my dreams, a great cast, wonderful dark comedy, and plenty of action and style.  For more information, check out the review!

For The Rocker: P!NK: All I Know So Far (Amazon)

P!NK: All I Know So Far is an insightful and intimate look at this worldwide performer's life and family that will connect you to and make you a fan of this high energy performer.  For more information, check out the review! 

For The Kids: Raya and the Last Dragon (Redbox)

It's a new animated Disney movie!  Beat the summer heat and check out this Asian inspired animated film that is a return to form for Disney storytelling!  For more information, check out the review!

For The Midnight Movie Fans: Dementia Part II (Digital)

Dementia Part II's strange story, gory effects, midnight movie camp, and unpredictable characters make this a house call that will leave you smiling and disgusted.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Unsettling Film About Unrest: New Order (Theaters)
New Order is a chaotic cinematic experience, with a masterfully shot descent into unrest fueled by fantastic acting and universal societal and economic disparities.    For more information, check out the review!

For A Haunting Boarding School Story: Seance (Theaters and Digital)

Seance's understated tone, great cast, and wonderful setting summon a mysterious and thoroughly enjoyable murder mystery.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Throwback Bloody Good Time: Psycho Goreman (Digital)
Psycho Goreman is an entertaining throwback to 80s and 90s shows, with an exaggerated style, intentionally noticeable costumes, and fights that definitely earn the "gore" in Goreman!  For more information, check out the review!

Seance Review: A Wonderfully Understated Murder Mystery

Release date: May 21, 2021
Running time: 92 minutes
Starring: Suki Waterhouse (Assassination Nation, The Divergent Series: Insurgent), Madisen Beaty (Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Ella-Rae Smith (“Into the Badlands”, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw), Inanna Sarkis (Boo 2! A Madea Halloween, After franchise),  Seamus Patterson (“Channel Zero”) and Marina Stephenson-Kerr (“Channel Zero”).
Written and Directed By: Simon Barrett (You’re Next, The Guest)

Camille Meadows is the new girl at the prestigious Edelvine Academy for Girls. Soon after her arrival, six girls invite her to join them in a late-night ritual, calling forth the spirit of a dead former student who reportedly haunts their halls. But before morning, one of the girls is dead, leaving the others wondering what they may have awakened.

Seance is most striking in the underrated nature of it.  The film, set in a prestigious female boarding school, keeps a measured tone during much of it.  That is not to say that there is no emotion, but overall the film relies on its story telling and not emotional manipulation to keep you engaged.  And it is perfectly fitting with the characters and charm of the school; they are taught not to act out so the film also doesn't overexert itself.  There are few jump scares, there is not a lot of gore initially, and mainly the story is progressed through conversations between the main group of young women and some light action scenes.  And throughout this all Seance has a wonderful otherworldly electronic soundtrack that fits the tone and setting perfectly.  

But that is not to say that this film is not a good murder mystery.  The movie keeps you guessing what will happen next, with quick kills and unsettling setups that make you wonder where the ghost will strike next.  The movie reveals everything slowly and lets the story speak for itself.  And the kills are varied as well; you don't get a lot of gore but there is a nice variety in the film.  Seance also sets these up well, with nice quick scenes that give you a sense of unease without dwelling on it.  And the underlying supernatural aspects of the film are perfectly intertwined with this.  The story feels right of a boarding school history, with the perfect setting and enough touches to keep you intrigued.  

And what also impressed me about this film is the sheer lack of gimmicks.  There appears to be no CG, no large jump scares, no over the top sequences.  The terror is from the girls not knowing what is going on or who will be targeted next.  The kills are slow to build up but occur quickly.  And through it all the mystery and conflicting personalities of the main group propel the story and keep you interested.  Seance is a movie that doesn't try to, but inevitably will leave an impression on you.  And the film also has a satisfying ending that ties the movie together.

Seance's understated tone, great cast, and wonderful setting summon a mysterious and thoroughly enjoyable murder mystery.  

Watch it.

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Seance is available in theaters, on demand and digitally on May 21, 2021.

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