When news broke that Nicolas Cage would be the lead actor of a psychedelic art house horror movie, I was immediately intrigued. Despite everything he has accomplished, Nicolas Cage is often overtly criticized and not given enough credit for being one of Hollywood's most consistent contemporary actors. His performance in this film is brutal, emotional and twisted but it isn't the film's only strength.

The cinematography is obviously inspired by horror movies of the seventies. While overrated contemporary genre flicks like It Follows only copy elements from the past, Mandy uses flashy colours, psychedelic music and vintage clothing to its advantage. The film follows a couple living relatively secluded in a forest. A fanatic sect kidnaps, torments and burns the woman to death while the agonized husband has to watch her helplessly. He is left behind and for dead but manages to survive and take his revenge.

It isn't only the liberating carnage in strange settings or the psychedelic references to the seventies or eighties that make this film stand out but also the quite intriguing characters. Nicolas Cage and Andrea Riseborough credibly play a simple couple in love with each other and the nature around their cozy home. The members of the sect are all quite unique. Jeremiah Sand reminds of a mixture of mass murderer Charles Manson and Peoples Temple's religious leader Jim Jones. Brother Swan intrigues as obedient and resilient disciple. Mother Marlene is a sadist who enjoys seeing people suffer. Sister Lucy however shows a different side of the cult as she appears to be a victim stuck in the sect and not knowing how to get out. Every single character is present for a reason and even the Black Skulls, a mysterious biker gang with almost inhuman powers, is quite intriguing.

The only negative element of the film is that the first third takes some time to unfold. Mandy carefully introduces us to the numerous characters which is a great idea but especially the presentation of the two lead characters Mandy Bloom and Red Miller overstays its welcome. The movie could have been shortened by at least fifteen minutes at that point while the rest is quite concise.

Mandy provoked quite mixed reactions at the movie theater I went to. The men gave the film a standing ovation and were clearly enjoying themselves while most of the girlfriends they had brought along felt somewhat unsettled. Mandy has an artistic, psychedelic and referential side but it's still a slasher at heart and tells a sinister tale of vengeance. It's not as unsettling as I Saw the Devil but it still isn't for the faint-hearted. This isn't a movie for children.

If you like art house cinema and horror movies, Mandy combines both very well and offers a psychedelic ride you won't forget anytime soon. If this film plays at a movie theater near you, go ahead and enjoy its magnificent images and sounds right there. Mandy might not reinvent the genre and has a few minor lengths but it's one of the most creative films released so far this year.

Peppermint is at heart a feminist version of John Wick and shows how a mother who lost her family to a drug cartel goes into hiding and comes back five years later to take her pitiless revenge. The story might be simplistic at some points and quite predictable but that is the movie's only minor flaw.

Jennifer Garner's performance is stunning as you really root for the hurt family mother who disciplines herself to become a resilient killing machine. The fight scenes are spectacular, involving martial arts elements and well as gun fights. The numerous settings are also used during the movie's numerous ferocious combats. The intense action sequences are interrupted by entertaining scenes showing how police, media and civilians react to the lead character's revenge.

If you like spectacular action movies with a dramatic background story and some tension leading to a climatic showdown, you will enjoy every minute of the very compact Peppermint. Despite the predictable story, it's one of the best contemporary action movies I have seen. You will only find better films of that kind in Asia these days. Overrated action actors like the dull Dwayne Johnson should take some notes from a spectacular Jennifer Garner.

Miss Zombie is a short Japanese social drama and horror movie shot in black and white. It convinces with great acting performances, gloomy atmosphere, calm camera techniques, artistic creativity and a solid plot. 

It tells the story of a bourgeois family consisting of an adventurous son, an emotional mother and a self-centered father. They purchase a female zombie maid who became what she is under dramatic circumstances. She is the type of zombie that isn't dangerous as long as she isn't fed any meat. Her presence still isn't welcome as neighbours are afraid of her, children throw rocks at her and homeless people attempt to stab her on multiple occasions. This abuse soon continues at the family's home as the zombie maid is sexually abused by several men. Things get tense when her presence leads to conflicts between family members. The story reaches its climax when an unspeakable tragedy happens with unforeseeable consequences.

Miss Zombie is an intellectual movie that makes you wonder whether the zombie maid is the monster or the abusive women, men and children around her. The film starts as slow-paced but atmospherically gripping social drama and becomes a horrifying tale of tragedy, survival and murder. The movie also deals with complex topics such as family values, moral courage and the fate of minorities. Some critics even draw similarities between the fate of the fictional main character and refugees that are mistreated by foreigners. You can enjoy this movie as entertaining art house experiment but also as sociocritical work. In both cases, Miss Zombie is refreshingly different from any other movie involving zombies and could even appeal to audiences that usually don't care about fantasy or horror films thanks to this movies dramatic and realistic touch.

If you are open to think outside the box and accept a slow-paced movie in black and white in Japanese with English subtitles, you will discover a unique gem that mixes survival horror and family drama in a most poignant way. Miss Zombie is a movie you won't forget anytime soon as it offers food for thought, different interpretations and even elements to debate long after the film has concluded.

I don't care about The Conjuring series but decided to watch The Nun nonetheless because it takes place in Romania, has both religious and occult elements and is set in an old monastery surrounded by a gloomy graveyard, dense forest and isolated village. 

The film turned out being entertaining from start to finish, didn't overstay its welcome with a very reasonable length of ninety-six minutes and oozed with sinister atmosphere. The film doesn't only rely on the usual jump scares but has extended atmospheric passages that increase tension towards the end. The dramatic climax and falling action make for a final third that was among the most entertaining in horror cinema of recent memory. Another positive point are the characters as Father Burke intrigues as experienced veteran with a gloomy past while Sister Irene convinces as charming, intelligent and resilient young woman and the French farmer charms with his gentle manners. The three characters investigating a supernatural phenomenon complement one another perfectly. The acting performances are also very solid.

The only thing I would have done differently are the two references to the Conjuring franchise right at the exposition of the film and at the unnecessary resolution. The Nun is good enough to stand on its own and doesn't need these references. I would even go as far to say that this movie is actually better than the somewhat exchangeable main franchise.

If you like atmospheric horror movies with great characters and very good actresses and actors, The Nun will certainly entertain you from start to finish. You don't need to be familiar with The Conjuring to appreciate and understand this film. The Nun turned out much better than I expected and is the best horror movie I have seen so far this year.

A Simple Favor is a psycho thriller that is very similar to films like Gone Girl or The Girl on the Train. It's a little bit too similar and therefore slightly predictable. However, this movie is still greatly executed and very entertaining. The second and especially the last third are particularly intense.

The opening third slightly overstays its welcome. It has the purpose to introduce the numerous characters but since the very first scene already spoils one of the main characters' disappearance, the audience only waits for this to happen. However, the exposition appropriately introduces the three main characters. We follow the slightly nervous single mother and widow Stephanie who has a passion for activities in her community and especially cooking. She meets the mysterious Emily who is very strict, straightforward and even rude at times but who lives life to the fullest. Her husband Sean is an author with writer's block who madly loves his wife. The first third feels like a slice of life, using humorous and dramatic elements but being somewhat shallow beneath the surface.

The rising action finally starts when Emily disappears from one day to the other. She asked her best friend Stephanie to take her son from school and said she would come pick him up. However, she vanishes without leaving a trace. Emily starts to wonder what might have happened and starts investigating her suspicious employer. She also uses her internet show to ask viewers from around the country for help. The movie that started in a rather light-hearted tone gets a more serious touch here that soon turns sinister.

The climax, falling action and resolution all occur in the film's final third that comes around with several twists, lots of tension and a healthy dose of drama. The last forty minutes or so will keep the audience on the edge of their seats. The final conclusion is slightly disappointing but the build-up is so outstanding that it actually barely matters.

Aside the progressive change from light-hearted comedy drama to sinister psycho thriller, the movie convinces with its clever plot and outstanding acting performances by the three main characters. If you like the aforementioned Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train, you can consider A Simple Favor movie of the year material. If you just enjoy twisted psycho thrillers, you will like this gripping film that however lacks some creativity compared to quite similar movies that have been released all too recently.