How It Ends (2021) 2.5/5
Available to stream on: Hulu
I’m not exaggerating when I say that this film was on my watchlist for over a year. I was really excited to watch this one. Unfortunately, I thought it was just okay. It follows Zoe Lister-Jones and her younger self as they navigate the last day on Earth together. There’s a ton of cameos from other actors and comedians throughout the film, which are delightful. I think my Letterboxd review sums it up: Clever concept, clumsy execution. It was filmed during the height of the pandemic, so I’m sure the production was tricky. But I thought it was a bit underdeveloped and thrown together.
Fresh (2022) 3.5/5
Available to stream on: Hulu
What a debut from Mimi Cave! A wild ride from start to finish. This film stars Sebastian Stan and Daisy Edgar-Jones. It has an insane plot twist about a half hour in that changes the entire tone of the film. I really enjoyed the film, though I had a few issues with the script and lack of character development. PSA: don’t watch this if you have a squeamish stomach and can’t handle some gore.
West Side Story (2021) 4/5
Available to stream on: Disney+ or HBO Max
Absolutely stunning. I enjoyed this remake of the 1961 West Side Story much more than I thought I would. Ariana DeBose absolutely stole the show for me — watching her win her Oscar for this role was a beautiful moment. An obvious flaw in this film was the casting of Ansel Elgort, but I was able to mostly ignore him. Rachel Zegler as Maria was a masterclass in vocals — I absolutely can’t wait to watch her as Snow White.
Turning Red (2022) 4/5
Available to stream on: Disney+
Another fun fact about me is that I adore animation, both in film and television. And this latest animated film from Pixar (directed by Domee Shi) is a delight. If you don’t immediately add the soundtrack to your music library after finishing the film, I don’t want to be your friend.
Tragedy Girls (2017): 2.5/5
Available to stream on: Hulu
I’ll be honest – this was a thirst watch. I’ve recently developed a crush on Jack Quaid and decided to watch his filmography. Tragedy Girls is a slasher/horror film, focused on two best friends who like to commit murders together. Fun! A lot of the dialogue was genuinely bad, though the cast performances weren’t horrible. (For the record, Jack was great. Yes, I’m biased.) There were a couple of twists towards the end that I wasn’t expecting, but overall this wasn’t great. It was an easy watch — in fact, I wrote social media copy for my 9-5 during the extent of it. If you’re looking for a film to watch during the upcoming Halloween season, this is one to add to your list.
Wild Things (1998): 3/5
Available to stream on: Netflix
I know this seems like a random log, but I promise I had a reason to watch this. I saw a TikTok recommending watching this film on Netflix a while ago, and finally decided to watch it while bored on a Friday night. It truly was wild! There were a few too many twists towards the end, but I thought it was a pretty solid thriller.
Last Night in Soho (2021): 3/5
Available to stream on: Digital rental
This was… a trip. I’m going to let my Letterboxd review (which contains spoilers) speak for itself.
Nobody (2021): 4/5
Available to stream on: HBO Max
This was another film that had been on my watchlist for a long time. I’m not usually interested in films that contain a lot of violence, but this one was pretty awesome. My favorite review of the film has to be this one. If you’re looking for an easy, entertaining watch, add this to your list.
OLIVIA RODRIGO: driving home 2 u (a SOUR film) (2022): Liked
Available to stream on: Disney+
Olivia Rodrigo is so talented it makes my brain hurt. This was a joy to watch. Highly recommend if you’re into music, music documentaries, or simply just want to see how Sour was made.
In the Heights (2021): 4/5
Available to stream on: HBO Max
Another surprise favorite of mine! I put off watching this last summer when it was available on HBO Max and decided to watch it randomly when I had some time off at the end of March. The music in this is extraordinary — I’ve had the soundtrack on repeat since I watched the film. A stellar ensemble heart, a story with a ton of heart, and a limited amount of Lin-Manuel Miranda jump scares. Please watch this if you haven’t yet.
Belfast (2021): 3/5
Available to stream on: Digital rental
I watched this the afternoon before the 2022 Academy Awards, hoping to really enjoy it. I really love the idea of following a child protagonist through historical events — I love how its done in Jojo Rabbit (2019). Unfortunately, I wasn’t a huge fan of this script or the way that the film was structured. So many of the scenes ended abruptly, with no further explanation throughout the rest of the film. I thought that the performances were pretty good — I was confused about Jamie Dorman’s character, though. Were we supposed to root for him? Who knows. Overall, I think this is a film worth watching. But I’m a little shocked that it ended up winning the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.
What should I watch in April? Leave your suggestions in the comments below!
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