Double Movie Review - Pete's Dragon (2016) + Lights Out

So as we come to an end of another summer and with today being a bank holiday in the UK, I'm giving you guys not one, but 2 film reviews which I would've added to the list last week, but I feel that it should've been either a top 10 or top 5 as those sound a bit more tidier than a top 7. But anyway, let's review these films featuring a dragon and some kind of paranormal demon who hates the light (not necessarily in that order):


Light's Out

Since watching Paranormal Activity 3, I've felt that there hasn't really been any films with jumpscares where the jumpscares have been well executed. I mean yes it was interesting to watch Unfriended with the whole film being told off a Mac monitor and I will admit that Friend Request had possibly some of the best acting seen in any horror film to date of which I've seen, but as far as the jumpscares in those films are concerned, they weren't very well executed and I knew they were coming from a mile off and sometimes, they are just so bizarre. So this then brings me to Lights Out. Is it a well executed film with jumpscares? Let's find out:

So we meet a guy called Paul (played by Billy "I was Bella's father in Twilight" Burke) who is the owner of a mannequin factory. He is talking to his son Martin (played by Gabriel Bateman) while he is working late at the factory. Meanwhile his assistant Ester (played by Lotta Losten) is getting ready to lock up, but as she turns off the lights, she sees a shadowy figure who at first looks like some small girl, but soon realises that this isn't an ordinary girl as she disappears when the lights go back on and seems to have some odd abilities. Ester warns Paul about this before she sets out, but just as Paul finishes up, he sees the shadowy figure who captures him and is presumed dead. Martin lives with his mother called Sophie (played by Maria Bello) who has a mental illness and depression which has her in contact with the shadowy figure. This eventually attracts the attention of Martin's sister called Rebecca (played by Teresa Palmer) who lives away from home in an apartment. She hears about Martin's insomnia and confronts her mother before deciding to take him into her home. However, the shadowy figure revealed to be Sophie's imaginary friend, follows them and begins to haunt them. Because of this, Rebecca with help from her boyfriend Bret (played by Alexander DiPersia) investigates the matter before the demon kills them all.

So after seeing it, I felt the jumpscares were well executed and weren't too predictable to know when they would occur. It also does not follow cliches used in many horror films which is quite nice and everyone plays their parts well. Only criticism I have is that it is quite short with its running time being 81 minutes, however I was pleasantly surprised when I saw it and if you're one of those people who wants something more original in the horror genre, this will do you just fine. 9/10

Pete's Dragon

I just want to point out that while I am aware of the original's existence and that it was one of the first live action animation hybrid films to ever be out, I have not seen it in its entirety. Because of that, my review will be based on seeing the film as stand alone. So Disney have been doing quite a lot lately with their live action remakes of some of their earlier works. Its nothing new as all film studios do that, but its nice to see one of their films being seen from a totally different perspective. But anyway, let's look at this film:

The year is 1977. We meet a boy called Pete (played by Oakes Fegley) who is on a road trip with his parents. However following the common Disney cliche of the hero's parents being killed, they almost hit a deer and drive off the road. Pete survives the crash and before being eaten by wolves, a non-talking dragon who Pete calls Elliot, saves him and takes him in as his own. 6 years later and we see a man called Mr. Meacham (played by the former head of SHIELD, Robert Redford) telling a story to some local children about a dragon he once hunted, though his daughter Grace (played by Bryce Dallas Howard who we last saw as the head of security in Jurassic World) who is the park ranger for the local woods, dismisses this as she has yet to see such a beast. Pete (who is now 11) and Elliot spot a lumberjack crew chopping down trees near his home and his presence attracts the attention of Grace who after trying to figure out who he is, takes him in as her own along with her boyfriend and his daughter. However while Pete may be safe, Elliot is not as a group of lumberjacks, hunt him down for their own personal gain. With them being so well apart, its up to Pete and his newly found family to find Elliot and stop the lumberjacks before chaos happens.

Now before going in, I was warned that the film may be too cheesy for my liking, but after watching it, I didn't think it was cheesy. It has a good cast who all play their parts well, the story is one that in some way I can relate to and its good some good visuals too. But its not perfect. Even though I praise Weta for their work over the years, I felt the dragon looked like a donkey at various points and the idea of capturing legendary animals for personal gain is an idea used time and time again. But aside from that, I enjoyed the film for what it was and I will of course have a look at the original film at some point. But I suspect that both films will be very different in story and how things are executed, but will still be enjoyable to watch. 9/10