Movie review - "Before I Wake" (2016) **1/2

I love Mike Flanagan's direction - spooky atmosphere, creepy dead kids, weird houses, emphasis on emotions. The story feels a little slight after a strong beginning and Kate Bosworth doesn't really have the chops to carry off the film (though she's playing someone grieving so her lack of expression kind of helps). Thomas Jane's hair is distracting and I was confused by the ending.

Movie review - "Hush" (2016) ***1/2

A slasher film in one respect because the killer has a mask. Really its a one location thriller - a woman, Kate Siegel, stuck at home while being terrorised. The gimmick is she's deaf which provides some great moments - a victim banging on the door and she can't hear, she can't hear him creeping around the house. I did wish they did more with it, but couldn't think of what... maybe use sign language with someone else. They do use an alarm.

The killer is played by John Gallaher who played the irritating Jim in The Newsroom and I did have fun imagining that this was what Jim got up to on the weekends ie. putting on a mask and killing people. The minor roles are well cast - everyone does well.

Expertly directed by Mike Flanagan who is becoming one of my favourite filmmakers.

TV review - "The Haunting of Hill House" (2018) ****1/2

Excellent adaptation of the famous novel. Maybe it would have been better off with a shorter run - emaybe six eps? - but its very well done. Atmospheric direction, strong acting. Its dramatically powerful, in part because of the deft characterisation but also because its a family drama. All the characters are distinctive - the warm but crazy mother, anxious father, sensible OCD elder sister, messed up but but professionally competent lesbian middle sister, writer brother, drug addict brother, traumatised younger sister. They are real people and you care about all of them which is what what happens to them matters. The interactions and family dynamics are first rate.

There's also another family - the two housekeepers and their kid. The fate of these is very moving.

Good shocks, some bravaura directing. It's extremely well done.