Capsule Reviews

Spermageddon (2024) – Capsule Review

I expected more. While the choice of Queen-like music is enjoyable, the movie peaks early with the great “Spermageddon” musical number.

The film suffers from being extremely lightweight considering the subject matter. Although elements such as the exploration of porn’s effects on youth sexual expectations are relevant, they are not deeply examined.

Furthermore, it is quite surprising that for what is supposed to be a rather graphic, albeit satirical, film dealing with sex, the limit (censorship?) is placed on the display of breasts, the vagina, and the penis.

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Eid (2024) – Capsule Review

The first film ever made by a Bedouin filmmaker offers a solid exploration of writing as a therapeutic tool for addressing the past and present traumas of our main characters and ties it nicely with the complexities of distant relationships.

Nevertheless, the parallel plot, which drives much of the conflicts of our character, involving the suffered sexual abuse, wedding arrangement, and relationship with his wife feel considerably underdeveloped.

While the core themes are compelling, the execution falters, leaving some storylines feeling incomplete.

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Hear Me: Our Summer (2024) – Capsule Review

This movie presents a heartfelt love story that, while extremely delicate and corny, holds some charm.

Unfortunately, the depiction of hearing impairment feels clichéd, and the turning point comes out of nowhere, disrupting the narrative flow. The conflicts between characters are unfounded and exaggerated, leading to a final twist that not only feels bots unsurprising and absurd but most worryingly it undermines the overall message of the film.

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Ik Zal Zien (2025) – Capsule Review

This Dutch drama excels in its technical approach, as it immerses the audience into the first-person experience of the newly visually impaired protagonist via the use of tight shots that make us blind to her surrounding and a slightly heightened sound mixing in little details that enhances the boosted senses.

The lead performance by Aiko Beemsterboer and her personal journey depicted in the film stand out, making for a compelling narrative.

However, the presentation of the visually impaired institution is only somewhat effective (do they really allow you to go that crazy in such places?), and the portrayal of the outside world, especially the family, feel lacking. The symbolic elements, presented through dreams also feel unnecessary and overexplanatory.

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The Shrouds (2024) – Capsule Review

The latest David Cronenberg attempts to blend black comedy with a convoluted conspiratory-based story (à la Burn After Reading) but falls short in execution.

The non-sensical plot detracts from the film’s overall appeal, and the body horror elements are underwhelming, lacking the expected impact.

Cronenberg feels surprisingly lazy and out of touch working with the elements that have sustained many of his previous great work.

While the black comedy moments provide some entertainment, they are not enough to save the film from its numerous flaws.

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