Four Favourites: April
Amber Midthunder as Naru in Prey (2022)
Friendship (2024)
****1/2
Director: Andrew DeYoung
Writer: Andrew DeYoung
Starring: Tim Robinson as Craig; Paul Rudd as Austin; Kate Mara as Tami
Craig Waterman (Tim Robinson) gets a new neighbour, Austin Carmichael (Paul Rudd). When the two become friends, Craig becomes obsessed with everything about Austin; not soon after, Austin finds Craig's intensity overbearing and abruptly ends their friendship. Craig spirals and begins to neglect his family as he tries to reattain Austin's fleeting affection.
Kate Mara and Tim Robinson in Friendship (2024)
Utilising Tim Robinson's outlandish humour to its fullest extent, Friendship does more than just explore the eccentricities of Craig's character but highlight the nature of his narcissism and the impact of this on his loved ones. Deeply sucked into a victimhood narrative of loneliness, Craig fails to address the emotional needs of his wife (who recently recovered from cancer) and understand how his actions affect the kind-but-harsh Austin.
Candyman (2021)
****
Director: Nia DaCosta
Writers: Nia DaCosta; Jordan Peele; Win Rosenfeld
Starring: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Anthony; Teyonah Parris as Brianna; Colman Domingo as William
Fascinated by the urban legend of the Candyman, up-and-coming artist Anthony McCoy researches the gentrified neighbourhood of Cabrini-Green for his latest project. But when two of his peers are murdered after the unveiling of his newest piece, Anthony's life begins to centre around the ghastly truth of the Candyman's history.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Anthony McCoy in Candyman (2021)
Acting as a sequel to the 1992 Candyman, Nia DaCosta's exploration of the story works just as well as a standalone feature. We're not only given insight into the gentrification of black communities but provided with the perspective of those both impacted and benefitting from these changes. Ultimately, we're shown how a fascination with deprived communities from a middle-class perspective leads to destruction in a dark, nuanced way, which is quickly becoming a signature of DaCosta films.
The Terminator (1984)
****
Director: James Cameron
Writers: James Cameron & Gale Anne Hurd
Starring: Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor; Michael Biehn as Kyle Reese; Arnold Schwarzenegger as Terminator
Two men travel back in time from the year 2029 in pursuit of Sarah Connor, the woman who will raise the man that saves humankind. One seeks to protect her, whilst the other is an invincible cyborg on a mission to kill her. Sarah finds herself in the middle of a futuristic war that will test the extent of her sanity and resilience.
Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor in The Terminator (1984)
The surreal stop motion and fast-paced character development gives The Terminator its charm. Watching Schwarzenegger remove his damaged eye in gruesome detail whilst feeling no sickness at all because of the strange clay-like texture to his features adds to the campy 80s charm of this action classic and is partly why it outshines its sequel in terms of entertainment value. Sorry to all Judgement Day superfans.
Prey (2022)
****
Director: Dan Trachtenberg
Writer: Patrick Aison
Starring: Amber Midthunder as Naru; Dakota Beavers as Taabe; Dane DiLiegro as Predator
Ostracised by her Comanche tribe for defying gendered expectations, Naru (Amber Midthunder) undergoes a deadly hunt to prove herself as a warrior. She finds herself in the path of a Predator, a technologically advanced alien species trained and equipped for one purpose: to pursue and kill. Naru must use her own wit and skill to outsmart and eliminate it.
Amber Midthunder in Prey (2022)
It's always satisfying to see colonisers get absolutely obliterated. Not only is Naru an action hero that makes a memorable mark on the Predator franchise, but her arc provides critique of multiple forms of misogyny: local, global, and intergalactic. The quality of the film is enhanced by its respectful depiction of Comanche traditions thanks to the lived experience of producer Jhane Myers.
