Film Review: Stephanie
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Cert: 15 cert
Director: Akiva Goldsman
Screenwriter: Ben Collins, Luke Piotrowski (screenplay)
Starring: Shree Crooks, Frank Grillo, Anna Torv, Jonah Beres, LaSaundra Gibson, Samantha Smith
Running time: 1h 26min
Parents advised reading before viewing the film as some scene may contain scenes unsuitable for younger viewers.
Sex & Nudity:
Violence & Gore:
Profanity:
Alcohol/Drugs/Smoking: none
Frightening/Intense Scenes:
Story: After a mysterious global crisis, a young girl is left alone to hide from a malevolent power that stalks her home. Her parents eventually return and the struggle begins to save their daughter.
Likes: This film almost slips my radar when it comes to films, mainly because of lack of advertisement. It seems a coming trend with universal film when it comes to releasing a film if it doesn't quite get the good reception that they aim for, the film to seem to hit Netflix instead of taking the risk with the cinema, which I will admit is a smart move why risk of losing money, when you can give it a netflix view.
Going into this film I didn't know what to expect, but straight off the bat, you can see flaws almost straight away with the film, mainly one is that you have zero clues about what is going on and why I feel like it trying to do what (A quite place) did, really not well execute.
We are given a clue with a new paper clip but even that is a little vague on what's going on, but one thing that gives this film its edge is the light tone of the house give a dark atmosphere where Stephanie home doesn't feel safe, this gives the film some substance and Shree Crooks performance as Stephanie is outstanding for a child star.
She gives off this vibe of a cute adorable child but later on when the film progress we get this switch in the manner and behaviour, this where the film gives the audience some sense of what is actually happening and going on.
The ending is pretty shocking as it leaves you with an unanswered question on what the hell has happened for all this to destruction. The film does have a few creepy moments through the film but nothing I would say it overly frightening which thinks the 15 certification kind of hurt this film, because I think it could've been a bit more psychological, it would have been frightening, unfortunately anything under 18cert film you can have this type of horror.
Overall concept has a Case 39, Babbadook and supernatural version of a quiet place vibe to it, which is ok, but I do feel this could be better, especial from the acting side of the film with believable acting giving the film realism.
It's not a masterpiece not by a long shot, but it still has some entertainment value, although flawed in storytelling could've been better.
Dislikes: I know some film doesn't really need a Narrative story to know what going on, but this film does feel lazy in telling the audience what is happening, it could've been done in a way so not to give away to much. This is where I feel the film lack in because going into this film is kind of confusing in the first act of the film until you start noticing things.
Overall: Dark with atmosphere good solid performances, just lack an explanation of what going
Rating: 5 out of 5 for Entertainment / 6 out of 10 for Concept.
Cert: 15 cert
Director: Akiva Goldsman
Screenwriter: Ben Collins, Luke Piotrowski (screenplay)
Starring: Shree Crooks, Frank Grillo, Anna Torv, Jonah Beres, LaSaundra Gibson, Samantha Smith
Running time: 1h 26min
Parents advised reading before viewing the film as some scene may contain scenes unsuitable for younger viewers.
Sex & Nudity:
- When the mother is in the daughter's room she is in a robe she then removes it and she is seen from the back in lace underwear with no bra. You can see one of her breasts from the side while she puts on her bra
Violence & Gore:
- A person's back is slowly cut open with a kitchen knife. However, no close-up of the wound is shown.
- Stephanie steps into a piece of broken glass causing her to leave a trace of bloody footprints.
- In the course of the movie, multiple people die from a broken neck. As the necks are snapped by a supernatural force, the scenes appear abstract and not explicitly violent.
Profanity:
- Stephanie spills food on her shirt and says shit and ass multiple times.
- Dad says shit when he touches something hot
Alcohol/Drugs/Smoking: none
Frightening/Intense Scenes:
- A corpse showing postmortem lividity can be seen. While the shot of the body is quite short, a close-up of the hand is shown extensively.
- During a surgical operation, a close-up of a spinning drill being lowered towards the patient's head is shown.
- Stephanie can be seen reaching into a jammed but still activated blender.
Story: After a mysterious global crisis, a young girl is left alone to hide from a malevolent power that stalks her home. Her parents eventually return and the struggle begins to save their daughter.
Likes: This film almost slips my radar when it comes to films, mainly because of lack of advertisement. It seems a coming trend with universal film when it comes to releasing a film if it doesn't quite get the good reception that they aim for, the film to seem to hit Netflix instead of taking the risk with the cinema, which I will admit is a smart move why risk of losing money, when you can give it a netflix view.
Going into this film I didn't know what to expect, but straight off the bat, you can see flaws almost straight away with the film, mainly one is that you have zero clues about what is going on and why I feel like it trying to do what (A quite place) did, really not well execute.
We are given a clue with a new paper clip but even that is a little vague on what's going on, but one thing that gives this film its edge is the light tone of the house give a dark atmosphere where Stephanie home doesn't feel safe, this gives the film some substance and Shree Crooks performance as Stephanie is outstanding for a child star.
She gives off this vibe of a cute adorable child but later on when the film progress we get this switch in the manner and behaviour, this where the film gives the audience some sense of what is actually happening and going on.
The ending is pretty shocking as it leaves you with an unanswered question on what the hell has happened for all this to destruction. The film does have a few creepy moments through the film but nothing I would say it overly frightening which thinks the 15 certification kind of hurt this film, because I think it could've been a bit more psychological, it would have been frightening, unfortunately anything under 18cert film you can have this type of horror.
Overall concept has a Case 39, Babbadook and supernatural version of a quiet place vibe to it, which is ok, but I do feel this could be better, especial from the acting side of the film with believable acting giving the film realism.
It's not a masterpiece not by a long shot, but it still has some entertainment value, although flawed in storytelling could've been better.
Dislikes: I know some film doesn't really need a Narrative story to know what going on, but this film does feel lazy in telling the audience what is happening, it could've been done in a way so not to give away to much. This is where I feel the film lack in because going into this film is kind of confusing in the first act of the film until you start noticing things.
Overall: Dark with atmosphere good solid performances, just lack an explanation of what going
Rating: 5 out of 5 for Entertainment / 6 out of 10 for Concept.
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