SMP Reviews
 From the writer of the Constantine screenplay, Frank A. Cappello, comes a new psychological thriller called The Womb. Sami, a deaf woman, is patiently waiting for her family to return after having left their home days (or longer?) ago. In the meantime, she has secured her home from a virus outside that is killing the residents of her neighborhood, leaving it a barren wasteland. While she waits, she fends off potential home invaders, rations her supplies, and buries the dead bodies that appear around her house. Has her family fallen to this malevolent force? How long can she hold out hope? What is the connection to the force outside and what Sami has inside? All of these questions and more are presented in this interesting twist on a common theme.  The Womb is a thought-provoking exploration into the effects of trauma on the human mind. Cappello managed to keep me guessing for most of the runtime. When the reality of what is going on is revealed, it still leaves things open to interpretation. While we see present-day Sami trying to survive, we are also given flashbacks to a major fateful event that happened to her as a child. The back and forth between past and present helps put the pieces in place to give a more complete picture. There is an added natural tension to the conflicts that Sami faces due to her lack of hearing. The story is intriguing, as is the performance of Cami Varela.  The Womb ©2020 Cami Varela’s Sami is an inspiring yet tragic character; inspiring to see her overcome her lack of hearing to survive the strange and deadly events happening around her neighborhood; tragic in the fact she is holding out hope for the return of her family when the audience knows that they are not coming back. Varela gives Sami layers; she has strength when needed, and compassion, but also fear. At a number of points we see that fear overtake her but her instinct to survive drives her through it. Below the surface, you can also see the underlying effects of the trauma she faced as a child. Hannah Zamora plays young Sami and she does an excellent job. Her mannerisms easily make you believe she is an actual younger version of Sami. Both actresses put their all into playing this character, and it shows.  The Womb has a number of special effects involved. For a film on a limited budget, most of the effects worked. Some of the dream scenes and a few moments of the malevolent force with the live actors looked rough, but special effects are not the main focus. The makeup effects and production design looked sharp. The majority of the movie takes place in Sami’s house which has its own character. While I would have liked the ending to be a little clearer as I found the resolution to be a bit of a head-scratcher, I understand that the filmmaker wants you to draw your own conclusions.
For an indie psychological thriller, The Womb is worth a watch. Much of the film rests on the shoulders of its main actress who does an excellent job in carrying it. I think the screenplay could have used one more revision to really tighten it up but overall, it was still an interesting tale. For fans looking for a character-driven dramatic thriller with some horror elements thrown in, then you will want to check this out.
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 Marlon Brando is considered by many to be one of the greatest, if not THE greatest, actors of all time. He has wowed audiences with his roles in On the Waterfront, Last Tango in Paris, and as Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather. But what about the man behind the great actor? A new movie tries to answer that question in a fun, enlightening, and even informative way. Waltzing with Brando is based on the real-life events involving an architect Bernard Judge who is hired by Marlon Brando to create the first, perfectly ecological retreat on the very remote island of Tetiaroa. We watch as the uptight Bernard adjusts to the free-spirited Marlon. Bernard grows to really believe in the project as the years pass. The challenges grow, but so does the friendship between Bernard and Marlon. We watch the strains, the ups, the downs, and the constant changes that occur while Judge tries to make Brando’s dream a reality.  Waltzing with Brando is a heartwarming, hilarious, and eye-opening window into a period of Marlon Brando’s life many may not have known about. The story focuses mainly on the dramatic hijinks between Judge and Brando, giving us a reason to appreciate Brando on a whole different level. The retreat is a real place that is still going strong today with the help of the Tetiaroa Society; something I was not even aware existed until this movie. If you are looking for some deep, dark secrets of a famous actor to be revealed, you will be disappointed. The point of this story is to show the human side, and it accomplishes that in every scene. The tone never gets really heavy, even in the most dramatic moments. This felt more like a celebration of humanity and friendship.  Bernard Judge is played by Jon Heder. It was a lot of fun seeing him transform from this uptight homebody to an all in, take-a-chance-and-make-it-happen sort of guy. Alaina Huffman plays Judge’s wife, Dana. She also puts in a top-notch, loving, and funny performance. There is a great connection between Huffman and Judge for the few scenes they are together. It is not as strong of a connection as there is with the scene-stealer Billy Zane as Brando. He truly transforms himself into the icon. You soon forget that it isn’t actually Marlon Brando on screen. At times, this feels like an authentic documentary, especially when we see Zane’s version of Brando in real TV interview clips. There are a number of famous moments presented, but they are just thrown in for a passage-of-time reference. Then there are times when it feels like a satirical comedy. The laughs come from the great chemistry between our two leads, which is the true strength of the story.  I loved the balance in tone and the even pacing of the editing. You will not look at your phone once during the 104 minute run time. You will be too busy entranced by not only the performance of the cast, which also included Richard Dreyfuss and Tia Carrera, but also learn about a lesser-known side of one of the best actors of all time. There is even a moment where film and reality collide in regards to the Tetiaroa Society. If nothing else, see it for a role that Billy Zane was born to play. Waltzing with Brando has become one of my favorite movies of the year and after you see it I think it will be for you too. For more information on the Tetiaroa Society, follow this link: https://www.tetiaroasociety.org/   Storytelling is a shared experience. A powerful story can emotionally affect the audience as much as the storyteller. A new independent dramatic horror film puts a dark spin on this concept. We’re Not Safe Here from filmmaker Solomon Gray is a story about Neeta who is dealing with her own personal issues as well as the disappearance of her friend Rachel. One night, Rachel shows up on Neeta’s doorstep, driven to tell Neeta a dark story she needed to get off her chest. As the night goes on and the tale gets more involved, the two start experiencing feelings of being watched, hearing odd sounds, and more. Neeta is driven to find out the truth behind Rachel’s story and uncovers a deep secret that will have a major impact on both women.  We’re Not Safe Here is a slow but steady supernatural thriller that explores the themes of shared trauma and the power of a story. Solomon Gray takes an old-school approach with the scares. We get creaking doors and movements out of the corner of the eye. There are also a number of times the audience is watching through the eyes of a mysterious stalker. All you hear is a raspy breathing during these moments, making things uncomfortable and creepy. The sound design is front and center throughout the movie. Not only does it maintain a creepy and uneasy atmosphere, but it is almost like another complete character.  With a character-driven story like We’re Not Safe Here, you need strong leads; Neeta and Rachel definitely fit the bill. Neeta is played by Sharmita Bhattacharya with depth and strength. She really makes you feel for her situation in her drive to find the truth in Rachel’s story. You also sense that she truly cares for Rachel, even as she starts to suspect that Rachel may have an ulterior motive. Hayley McFarland plays Rachel, and sells the idea that something has her truly scared, emoting fear in her facial expressions and body language. We are given glimpses of what might be terrifying her, but Gray leaves the details up for interpretation. I loved the dynamic between these two and their relationship is the moving force of the story.  There are brutal scenes that are visually and emotionally intense, especially the opening sequence. You will never see a pillowcase in quite the same way again. The makeup effects and use of blood are effective and efficient for a film of this budget. The cinematography also stood out. One of my favorite scenes involved shots of a foggy street, which helped set up the creepy atmosphere. Further adding to that was a shot of a shadow against the outside of a house that looked like a very scary claw following Neeta.
A high production value, combined with sharp direction, solid performances, and pitch-perfect sound design all help make We’re Not Safe Here the ideal movie for those who like supernatural horror mysteries. Solomon Gray's talent as a storyteller is as strong as Rachel’s, and I look forward to seeing what Gray will come up with next. |
AuthorI have been reviewing films since high school. I love discussing films with those who share my passion for them. I also do video reviews on YouTube and on my podcast. Archives
October 2025
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