Right off the bat, I have to admit: musicals and I don’t usually get along. If I can count on one hand the musicals I genuinely enjoy, that’s being generous. So when I sat down to watch Wicked , I was already crafting my critique in my head. But somewhere along the way, something happened. The movie started to work for me—until it didn’t. Let me explain. Image via IMDb A Vibrant and Immersive Oz First off, the set and costume design are top-tier. The world of Oz has never felt more alive, immersive, or well-thought-out. I’m a fan of The Wizard of Oz and have always appreciated the intricate world-building within it. Much like The Lord of the Rings , every bizarre element of Oz feels like it has a purpose and a place. It’s whimsical yet grounded, and Wicked captures that beautifully. Image by ELLE Decor Strong Character Arcs The characters also deserve praise. Each one felt three-dimensional, and the movie took care to give even minor players their own arcs. It’s rare for a film to st...
When I sat down to watch Heretic , I thought I was in for a straightforward creepy-kidnap thriller. And yes, there’s a captivity element at its core, but the film takes a turn into something far more introspective and psychological than I expected. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it does catch you off guard—it isn’t the typical cat-and-mouse horror. And that approach actually manages to bring out some deeply unsettling elements, just in a different way. Image by IMDb Words as Weapons of Fear One of Heretic 's most unique aspects is its slow, simmering creep factor that doesn’t rely on dark corners or shadowy lurking. The captor isn’t hiding or cloaked in mystery; in fact, he’s front and center. It’s his words, his unnervingly calm demeanor, that inject a skin-crawling tension. It’s refreshing—and disturbing—to see a character who doesn’t need to physically intimidate. His words do all the damage. Image by IMDb Hugh Grant's Haunting Performance The standout here, without...