#stopmotion 2024

*My personal review contains spoilers for the movie, which is why it’s been put under a cut. Please use your discretion in reading this review, and understand that this is NOT spoiler free*

My thoughts: First of all, the metaphoric aspect of this movie is far too heavy-handed to be enjoyable. Metaphor is fun, and often fundamental as well, but if your movie stops making sense and the audience can’t understand what’s going on (and these things are also not clarified by the end) then you’ve just laid it on far too thick. Which is all very unfortunate, because the plot sounded interesting, and I really love stop-motion style animation. I was definitely excited to see the animation aspects woven through the movie

To be fair, the animated portions are fantastic. Wonderful artistry and movement, and a lot of the scariness of the film comes from those animated characters and their moments being showcased. There were some genuinely creepy/gross moments shown through the animation, and the artwork there is just beautiful

But that being said, I cannot confidently say I know what happened in this movie, or what the ending was supposed to convey. I’m more confused coming out of it than anything

I think this could have been a great opportunity to showcase more issues people face with mental illness, like breaks with reality in the face of excessive grief, depression/anxiety, and things of that nature. But they really didn’t do anything with that, and so the movie falls flat by the time the credits roll

Also the little girl characters is just fucking annoying. I swear if I were Ella I’d have cunt punted that kid right off the bat. Just lets herself into Ella’s apartment, touches all her stuff, goads her into changing the story and doing other shit. I ain’t about to put up with that kind of nonsense, personally, but then I guess there wouldn’t be a movie either. StIll, using annoying kids as a trope to move things along is not appealing in the way directors seem to think it is

Okay but seriously holy fuck this was a good one. Like genuinely. It gives independent arthouse film. It gives mainstream descent into madness. It gives animation.

The use of sound and color to show different states of mind hit so good.

I don’t even really have any complaints about the child actor. The visuals were appropriately bizarre and horrifying.

It really resonated with that feeling of not knowing what to do with yourself after finally breaking free of a toxic relationship, especially with a parent. Trying to find a place now that you have the freedom to do so but not having any idea where to start, where to go, what to do, and just losing your shit about it. It gives resentment. It gives frustration. it gives fear.

It’s a very open sort of movie, and I suspect it won’t be for everyone between the violence and the visuals, but I personally enjoyed it immensely.

A feast for the eyes if you’re into the grotesque.

Or tool’s music videos.